In the real world, we don’t get to make any decision. The filter hits us or it doesn’t.
If it hits early, then we shouldn’t exist (good news: we do!). If it hits late, then WE’RE ALL GOING TO DIE!
In other words, I agree that it’s about subjective anticipation, but would point out that the end of the world is “bad news” even if you got to live in the first place. It’s just not as bad as never having existed.
Nick is wondering whether we can stop worrying about the filter (if we’re already past it). Any evidence we have that complex life develops before the filter would then cause us to believe in the late filter, leaving it still in our future, and thus still something to worry about and strive against. Not as bad as an early filter, but something far more worrisome, since it is still to come.
In the real world, we don’t get to make any decision. The filter hits us or it doesn’t.
If it hits early, then we shouldn’t exist (good news: we do!). If it hits late, then WE’RE ALL GOING TO DIE!
In other words, I agree that it’s about subjective anticipation, but would point out that the end of the world is “bad news” even if you got to live in the first place. It’s just not as bad as never having existed.
Nick is wondering whether we can stop worrying about the filter (if we’re already past it). Any evidence we have that complex life develops before the filter would then cause us to believe in the late filter, leaving it still in our future, and thus still something to worry about and strive against. Not as bad as an early filter, but something far more worrisome, since it is still to come.