imagine two ice cream stores, one which cares about profit-maximization at the expense of all else, and the other which cares about X, for any X other than profit-maximization
if X is “eliminating competition”, then the second store might end up more successful (and more sustainable) in the long term, while the first one will sleep with the fishes.
I guess it depends on how you think about profit maximization. If eliminating competition increases profit, wouldn’t a profit-maximizer want to eliminate competition as well?
Well, yes, but that’s the difference between instrumental and terminal goals. If your terminal goal is (longest) survival, not profit or growth, your best instrumental goals are not that obvious. This is basically like in any strategy game. Should you eliminate any competition the moment you notice it? Should you alternate between growth (through profit) and war? Should you cultivate competition for a time, then cull them just before they become a threat? Should you conserve limited resources?
Definitely the growth stage is important as a part of any “proposed solution”, but it doesn’t mean that it’s the main metric to focus on.
if X is “eliminating competition”, then the second store might end up more successful (and more sustainable) in the long term, while the first one will sleep with the fishes.
I guess it depends on how you think about profit maximization. If eliminating competition increases profit, wouldn’t a profit-maximizer want to eliminate competition as well?
Well, yes, but that’s the difference between instrumental and terminal goals. If your terminal goal is (longest) survival, not profit or growth, your best instrumental goals are not that obvious. This is basically like in any strategy game. Should you eliminate any competition the moment you notice it? Should you alternate between growth (through profit) and war? Should you cultivate competition for a time, then cull them just before they become a threat? Should you conserve limited resources?
Definitely the growth stage is important as a part of any “proposed solution”, but it doesn’t mean that it’s the main metric to focus on.