I guess the point was that if we are going to consider “software developer output” even as a weak evidence in this debate, why consider Eliezer’s output, and not the best output of people who agree with him?
An analogy: Imagine that there is a mathematical problem. A twelve-years old child solves the problem and says “x = 10”. Then a university professor of mathematics looks at the problem and the solution and says “indeed, you are right”. Taken this story as a whole, would you judge the “x = 10” hypothesis by credentials of the child, or of the professor? Further, imagine that another university professor of mathematics looks at the problem and says “actually, this is wrong, x = 12“; and then the two professors start a long discussion whether “x = 10” or “x = 12”. Again, would you frame this debate as a “child versus professor” debate or as a “professor against professor” debate?
The point is, the argument “I am impressive software developer and I say EY is wrong, and EY is not an impressive software developer” is weakened by saying “well there are other impressive software developers that say EY is right”.
I guess the point was that if we are going to consider “software developer output” even as a weak evidence in this debate, why consider Eliezer’s output, and not the best output of people who agree with him?
An analogy: Imagine that there is a mathematical problem. A twelve-years old child solves the problem and says “x = 10”. Then a university professor of mathematics looks at the problem and the solution and says “indeed, you are right”. Taken this story as a whole, would you judge the “x = 10” hypothesis by credentials of the child, or of the professor? Further, imagine that another university professor of mathematics looks at the problem and says “actually, this is wrong, x = 12“; and then the two professors start a long discussion whether “x = 10” or “x = 12”. Again, would you frame this debate as a “child versus professor” debate or as a “professor against professor” debate?
The point is, the argument “I am impressive software developer and I say EY is wrong, and EY is not an impressive software developer” is weakened by saying “well there are other impressive software developers that say EY is right”.