Take the limit as we observe more and more behavior—it takes a million bits to specify E, for example, or a billion. Then the utility maximizer and utility minimizer are both much much simpler (can be specified in fewer bits) than the Buddha-like zero utility agent (assuming E is in fact consistent with a simple utility function). Likewise, in that same limit, the true laws of physics plus initial conditions are much much simpler than saying “L=0 and E just happens”. Right? Sorry if I’m misunderstanding, I haven’t read A&M.
The trick is that you can use the simplest method for constructing E in your statement “L=0 and E just happens.” So e.g. if you have some simple Laws l and Conditions c such that l(c) = E, your statement can be “L=0 and l(c) just happens.”
Take the limit as we observe more and more behavior—it takes a million bits to specify E, for example, or a billion. Then the utility maximizer and utility minimizer are both much much simpler (can be specified in fewer bits) than the Buddha-like zero utility agent (assuming E is in fact consistent with a simple utility function). Likewise, in that same limit, the true laws of physics plus initial conditions are much much simpler than saying “L=0 and E just happens”. Right? Sorry if I’m misunderstanding, I haven’t read A&M.
The trick is that you can use the simplest method for constructing E in your statement “L=0 and E just happens.” So e.g. if you have some simple Laws l and Conditions c such that l(c) = E, your statement can be “L=0 and l(c) just happens.”