One of the most important points raised by the sequences is that not all minds are like humans. In quite a few places, people have discussed minds with slight changes from human minds, which seem altogether different. However, a lot of this discussion has been related to AI, as opposed to minds created by evolution. I’m trying to think of ways that minds which evolved, and are effective enough to start a civilization, could differ from humans’.
Three Worlds Collide would seem like an excellent starting point, but isn’t actually very useful. As far as I recall, the Babyeaters might have learned their baby eating habits as a result of societal pressure. The main difference in their society seemed to be the assumption that people who disagreed with you were simply mistaken: this contrasts to humans’ tendency to form rival groups, and assume everyone in the rival groups is evil. The Super-Happies had self modified, and so don’t provide an example of an evolved mind.
So here are my ideas so far.
A species could have the same neural pathways for wanting and liking. This would lead to far less akrasia.
A species could have a different set of standards for boredom. This seems to be one of the most precarious values in the human mind.
For fiction: How could alien minds differ from human minds?
One of the most important points raised by the sequences is that not all minds are like humans. In quite a few places, people have discussed minds with slight changes from human minds, which seem altogether different. However, a lot of this discussion has been related to AI, as opposed to minds created by evolution. I’m trying to think of ways that minds which evolved, and are effective enough to start a civilization, could differ from humans’.
Three Worlds Collide would seem like an excellent starting point, but isn’t actually very useful. As far as I recall, the Babyeaters might have learned their baby eating habits as a result of societal pressure. The main difference in their society seemed to be the assumption that people who disagreed with you were simply mistaken: this contrasts to humans’ tendency to form rival groups, and assume everyone in the rival groups is evil. The Super-Happies had self modified, and so don’t provide an example of an evolved mind.
So here are my ideas so far.
A species could have the same neural pathways for wanting and liking. This would lead to far less akrasia.
A species could have a different set of standards for boredom. This seems to be one of the most precarious values in the human mind.