The main points I’m getting from the above, in terms of problem definition, are these:
Reducing existential risk is a means to an end. The problem is how to ensure that your existence continues for a very, very long time (so that you get to do lots of fun stuff and have lots of interesting experiences?) At least, I presume that is why you want to get uploaded. Existential risk is one obstacle to achieving this, but not the only one.
Your problem is how to make a significant contribution to reducing existential risk and enjoy doing it. This seems a bit at odds with the previous statement, that reducing existential risk was a means to an end.
These two problem statements have very different implications for what you should do. For example, if the second one is really the problem you want to solve (have fun reducing existential risk), then it’s conceivable that you might trade off some expected lifespan to achieve it… which runs counter to the first.
I’ll be posting another comment later today on the second step: objectives. This is really a qualitative exploration of your utility function. You may find it useful to go back and forth between objectives and problem statement a bit until they are both clear in your mind.
There’s a concept that may be useful for you: the idea of achieving failure. It’s a phrase that Eric Ries uses to describe entrepreneurs who flawlessly execute the wrong plan. As HKR put it, “A good solution to a well-posed decision problem is almost always a smarter choice than an excellent solution to a poorly posed one.”
The main points I’m getting from the above, in terms of problem definition, are these:
Reducing existential risk is a means to an end. The problem is how to ensure that your existence continues for a very, very long time (so that you get to do lots of fun stuff and have lots of interesting experiences?) At least, I presume that is why you want to get uploaded. Existential risk is one obstacle to achieving this, but not the only one.
Your problem is how to make a significant contribution to reducing existential risk and enjoy doing it. This seems a bit at odds with the previous statement, that reducing existential risk was a means to an end.
These two problem statements have very different implications for what you should do. For example, if the second one is really the problem you want to solve (have fun reducing existential risk), then it’s conceivable that you might trade off some expected lifespan to achieve it… which runs counter to the first.
I’ll be posting another comment later today on the second step: objectives. This is really a qualitative exploration of your utility function. You may find it useful to go back and forth between objectives and problem statement a bit until they are both clear in your mind.
There’s a concept that may be useful for you: the idea of achieving failure. It’s a phrase that Eric Ries uses to describe entrepreneurs who flawlessly execute the wrong plan. As HKR put it, “A good solution to a well-posed decision problem is almost always a smarter choice than an excellent solution to a poorly posed one.”