In thinking about my own “sapient algorithms”, something they may be causing them to reinforce themselves and spread is the fact that in these cases, the reward of being present is greater than that of continuing on autopilot.
If remembering to check for my wallet prevents me from forgetting it, then maybe my brain picks up on that and extends it to similar situations which could benefit from a similar presence of mind. Conversely, mindlessly opening an app on my phone historically reduces momentary boredom, so that’s what I’ll end up doing in that scenario unless I intentionally counteract this by inserting a more beneficial (i.e. greater reward) action in its place.
So, even if the outcome of the sapient algorithm is more unpleasant than the autopilot alternative (like in your caffeine example), perhaps the extra agency gained in the process (and recognition of the value of this agency) is a reward in itself.
So, even if the outcome of the sapient algorithm is more unpleasant than the autopilot alternative (like in your caffeine example), perhaps the extra agency gained in the process (and recognition of the value of this agency) is a reward in itself.
Hmm. Maybe? I’m puzzling with you here on this one.
I’d lean toward agency not being intrinsically rewarding enough to override that kind of discomfort. I’m guessing, but my gut says that isn’t how it works.
My impression is, the capacity to be and stay present acts as a kind of anchor that stabilizes consciousness in the storm of painful emotion-memories (“traumas”). Like, when I get behind in emailing people, I tend to get a kind of sinking and scared feeling. If I let that drive, I keep avoiding the email in favor of… watching YouTube. Why? Because YouTube drowns out the sinking/scared sensation from conscious awareness! If I just sit there and feel it… well, the prospect can feel at first boring, then weirdly scary.
But if I’m stably here, in this embodied experience, then those feelings can come and grow and even threaten to overwhelm me and I’m fine. I’m just experiencing overwhelm. It’s okay!
…and then the emotion sort of washes over me, and “digests” (whatever that means). It loses its power. My emotional orientation changes. It’s easier for me to think clearly about the whole topic.
Locally, this is harder than watching YouTube. And slower!
But it also gets me more in touch with the awareness of longer-term benefits. I care more about building my capacity to weather whatever arises in me than I do about being comfortable in most moments.
(Though I might have a different opinion if it were neverending discomfort to be present!)
I’m rambling some related thoughts as I think about this. In short, I think you might be on to something. I just wonder if the nature of the reward is based on perspective rather than on agency being immediately more rewarding to experience as a sensation.
In thinking about my own “sapient algorithms”, something they may be causing them to reinforce themselves and spread is the fact that in these cases, the reward of being present is greater than that of continuing on autopilot.
If remembering to check for my wallet prevents me from forgetting it, then maybe my brain picks up on that and extends it to similar situations which could benefit from a similar presence of mind. Conversely, mindlessly opening an app on my phone historically reduces momentary boredom, so that’s what I’ll end up doing in that scenario unless I intentionally counteract this by inserting a more beneficial (i.e. greater reward) action in its place.
So, even if the outcome of the sapient algorithm is more unpleasant than the autopilot alternative (like in your caffeine example), perhaps the extra agency gained in the process (and recognition of the value of this agency) is a reward in itself.
Hmm. Maybe? I’m puzzling with you here on this one.
I’d lean toward agency not being intrinsically rewarding enough to override that kind of discomfort. I’m guessing, but my gut says that isn’t how it works.
My impression is, the capacity to be and stay present acts as a kind of anchor that stabilizes consciousness in the storm of painful emotion-memories (“traumas”). Like, when I get behind in emailing people, I tend to get a kind of sinking and scared feeling. If I let that drive, I keep avoiding the email in favor of… watching YouTube. Why? Because YouTube drowns out the sinking/scared sensation from conscious awareness! If I just sit there and feel it… well, the prospect can feel at first boring, then weirdly scary.
But if I’m stably here, in this embodied experience, then those feelings can come and grow and even threaten to overwhelm me and I’m fine. I’m just experiencing overwhelm. It’s okay!
…and then the emotion sort of washes over me, and “digests” (whatever that means). It loses its power. My emotional orientation changes. It’s easier for me to think clearly about the whole topic.
Locally, this is harder than watching YouTube. And slower!
But it also gets me more in touch with the awareness of longer-term benefits. I care more about building my capacity to weather whatever arises in me than I do about being comfortable in most moments.
(Though I might have a different opinion if it were neverending discomfort to be present!)
I’m rambling some related thoughts as I think about this. In short, I think you might be on to something. I just wonder if the nature of the reward is based on perspective rather than on agency being immediately more rewarding to experience as a sensation.