A lot of people seem to assume happiness = utility measured in utilons, which is a whole different thing altogether.
Yes, I’ve noticed that assumption, and I think even Jeremy Bentham talked about pleasure in utility terms. I don’t think it’s accurate for everyone, for instance, someone who values accomplishment more than happiness will assign higher utility to choices that lead to unhappy accomplishment than to unproductive leisure.
That’s a strange definition of “happier”. They’re happier with a choice just because they prefer that choice? Even if they appear frustrated and tired and grumpy all the time? Even if they tell you they’re not happy and they prefer this unhappiness to not accomplishing anything?
(In real life, I suspect happy people actually accomplish more, but consider a hypothetical where you have to choose between unhappy accomplishment and unproductive leisure.)
Eliezer did this whole thing in the Fun Theory sequence. Yes, not doing anything would be very boring, and being filled with cool drugs sounds like a horror story to my current utility curve. Let’s hope the future isn’t some form of ironic hell.
Yes, I’ve noticed that assumption, and I think even Jeremy Bentham talked about pleasure in utility terms. I don’t think it’s accurate for everyone, for instance, someone who values accomplishment more than happiness will assign higher utility to choices that lead to unhappy accomplishment than to unproductive leisure.
...and then they’re happier working. By definition. Welcome to semantics.
That’s a strange definition of “happier”. They’re happier with a choice just because they prefer that choice? Even if they appear frustrated and tired and grumpy all the time? Even if they tell you they’re not happy and they prefer this unhappiness to not accomplishing anything?
(In real life, I suspect happy people actually accomplish more, but consider a hypothetical where you have to choose between unhappy accomplishment and unproductive leisure.)
Eliezer did this whole thing in the Fun Theory sequence. Yes, not doing anything would be very boring, and being filled with cool drugs sounds like a horror story to my current utility curve. Let’s hope the future isn’t some form of ironic hell.