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Damian Tatum's avatar

This is great stuff. Violently endorse.

I'm a bit perplexed why you structure so much of it around a response to Tyler Cowen. I guess he's (marginally) influential but a) he's not THAT influential in ways that matter to this question and b) on this topic at least he's demonstrated himself to be remarkably obtuse: unable to even correctly represent the arguments he's failing to rebutt. It just doesn't seem worth it to bother with him on this and I'm curious how he in particular plays into your Theory of Change. Do you imagine he would be an unusually effective ally? Also, I can't help but feel like his obtuseness on this issue is somehow malicious or at least intentional. These arguments aren't that complicated and he's a smart guy, at some point it seems like he doesn't WANT to get it, at least not publicly. Again: I'm not even talking about agreeing with you--he just seems suspiciously unable to even understand the argument. What are the incentives for him I wonder?

Anyway, if I were trying to pitch this paper review to someone, it would be Elon Musk, who a) seems more than willing to destroy his way through any laws or institutions that stand in his way b) at least hypothetically probably accepts that "gradual" loss of agency is possible and c) appears to have already seized national power in a way that actually could turn the "humans must collude now" knobs. This isn't an endorsement of anything Musk is up to right now, quite the contrary, but I can't deny the guy knows about seizing power.

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Philip's avatar

What ought a regular person do about this? I find the argument convincing and the conclusions unavoidable. Even if this issue can be solved, it seems like guaranteed prolonged suffering until death for most regular people (myself) alive today. This angle seems to be downplayed in a lot of rationalist discussions (in favor of universal utility) but what if what i really care about is the flourishing of the humans around me? How does one walk around feeling condemned to such a bleak outcome? I am young and not at a point where there is much I can do to ‘enjoy things while they last’ I am in a transitional place where I am supposed to be working towards a better future that will not come to pass.

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