As a datapoint, I remember briefly talking with Eliezer in July 2021, where I said “If only we could make it really cringe to do capabilities/gain-of-function work...” (I don’t remember which one I said). To which, I think he replied “That’s not how human psychology works.”
I now disagree with this response. I think it’s less “human psychology” and more “our current sociocultural environment around these specific areas of research.” EG genetically engineering humans seems like a thing which, in some alternate branches, is considered “cool” and “exciting”, while being cringe in our branch. It doesn’t seem like a predestined fact of human psychology that that field had to end up being considered cringe.
As a datapoint, I remember briefly talking with Eliezer in July 2021, where I said “If only we could make it really cringe to do capabilities/gain-of-function work...” (I don’t remember which one I said). To which, I think he replied “That’s not how human psychology works.”
I now disagree with this response. I think it’s less “human psychology” and more “our current sociocultural environment around these specific areas of research.” EG genetically engineering humans seems like a thing which, in some alternate branches, is considered “cool” and “exciting”, while being cringe in our branch. It doesn’t seem like a predestined fact of human psychology that that field had to end up being considered cringe.