1) You should try to make the world a better place
is actually implied by the original wording. Clippy could also view
God, grant me the serenity To accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; And wisdom to know the difference.
as wise, though in vis case, “the things I cannot change” would be closer to “the resources I am unable to apply to paperclips”. One can’t expect too much specificity from a 25 word quote… I’m taking your point
The only thing that’s missing form it is something about having the insight to distinguish good changes form bad ones.
(which I agree with) as meaning that one should have the insight to distinguish instrumental subgoals that actually will advance one’s ultimate goals from subgoals that don’t accomplish this. (This is separate from differences in ultimate goals.)
I don’t think that
is actually implied by the original wording. Clippy could also view
as wise, though in vis case, “the things I cannot change” would be closer to “the resources I am unable to apply to paperclips”. One can’t expect too much specificity from a 25 word quote… I’m taking your point
(which I agree with) as meaning that one should have the insight to distinguish instrumental subgoals that actually will advance one’s ultimate goals from subgoals that don’t accomplish this. (This is separate from differences in ultimate goals.)
That all sounds right to me.