There are two problems: 1) not spending enough time on scholarship and 2) not having enough slack. These two problems are separate in the sense that 2 would be a problem even if 1 was solved and vice versa, but related in the sense that 2 is a big reason why 1 is a problem in the first place. And maybe 3) is another problem: that we spend too much time on existing considerations instead of seeking new considerations (exploiting instead of exploring).
Does that sound accurate?
If so, not that this adds much to the conversation, but 2 is the only one I have a decently strong sense of agreement towards.
1 I could see being true but also could see being false. Maybe people are currently spending roughly the right amount of time on scholarship. People in research and academia spending reading a good amount of papers, people in industry not doing so because it wouldn’t help them achieve their goals all that much.
3 is interesting. I’m really not sure.
I do think it’s worth pointing out that compared to other cultures, rationalist culture does a lot more to push 1) scholarship, 2) slack and 3) exploring. That’s not to say that we can’t do more along any of those dimensions though, just that “room for improvement” might be a better way to frame it than “problem”.
Let me attempt to paraphrase.
There are two problems: 1) not spending enough time on scholarship and 2) not having enough slack. These two problems are separate in the sense that 2 would be a problem even if 1 was solved and vice versa, but related in the sense that 2 is a big reason why 1 is a problem in the first place. And maybe 3) is another problem: that we spend too much time on existing considerations instead of seeking new considerations (exploiting instead of exploring).
Does that sound accurate?
If so, not that this adds much to the conversation, but 2 is the only one I have a decently strong sense of agreement towards.
1 I could see being true but also could see being false. Maybe people are currently spending roughly the right amount of time on scholarship. People in research and academia spending reading a good amount of papers, people in industry not doing so because it wouldn’t help them achieve their goals all that much.
3 is interesting. I’m really not sure.
I do think it’s worth pointing out that compared to other cultures, rationalist culture does a lot more to push 1) scholarship, 2) slack and 3) exploring. That’s not to say that we can’t do more along any of those dimensions though, just that “room for improvement” might be a better way to frame it than “problem”.
Sounds like a reasonable take. I recognize there are issues with looking at a three sigma outlier and wishing for a four sigma outlier.