Like, there might be substantial hardcoded circuitry which puts this stuff in, rather than it falling out of relatee-wise generalisation.
I think this is tied up with learning-from-scratch. “Relatee-wise generalisation” is compatible with learning-from-scratch, and I can’t currently see any other option that’s compatible with learning-from-scratch. Can you? I’m not sure what you mean by “hardcoded circuitry”.
Then someone might say: “Yeah but if we throw out learning-from-scratch, then look at all these other possible ways that social instincts might work!” But I’m currently strongly disinclined to throw out learning-from-scratch, because I have a lot of other reasons for believing it.
So the premise of this post is something like “Is there any plausible explanation for social instincts that’s compatible with Posts #2–#7, and especially with the learning-from-scratch discussion in Post #2?” (That’s the “symbol grounding” thing of Section 13.2.2, see also the post title.) If yes, then I’d be willing to bet that that explanation for social instincts is the correct one, and I would want to prioritize fleshing it out and testing it. If no, then oops, guess I better throw out Posts #2–#7!!
Thanks.
I think this is tied up with learning-from-scratch. “Relatee-wise generalisation” is compatible with learning-from-scratch, and I can’t currently see any other option that’s compatible with learning-from-scratch. Can you? I’m not sure what you mean by “hardcoded circuitry”.
Then someone might say: “Yeah but if we throw out learning-from-scratch, then look at all these other possible ways that social instincts might work!” But I’m currently strongly disinclined to throw out learning-from-scratch, because I have a lot of other reasons for believing it.
So the premise of this post is something like “Is there any plausible explanation for social instincts that’s compatible with Posts #2–#7, and especially with the learning-from-scratch discussion in Post #2?” (That’s the “symbol grounding” thing of Section 13.2.2, see also the post title.) If yes, then I’d be willing to bet that that explanation for social instincts is the correct one, and I would want to prioritize fleshing it out and testing it. If no, then oops, guess I better throw out Posts #2–#7!!