Also recall that we’re in a tiny tiny corner of Reality (whatever Tegmark level it is, it’s probably much larger than what we can see), and it’s pretty unclear how to update EU(Reality | human history).
Do you believe in a quantum multiverse, or a spatially infinite universe (beyond the observable universe)? You can get a similar conclusion with either of these (which are Tegmark Levels 3 and 1, respectively).
More plausible, somewhat comforted that some branches could survive. However, my brain works by caring about what I can effect and observe. For instance, this kind of argument is not going to make me less worried about S-risks (or just personally being tortured) or like, even my friends and family dying.
Hey Cole! I also went through a period of feeling pretty worried about s-risks, and have recently come out the other side. If you’d like someone to talk to, or even any advice re: any materials you might find helpful for coming to accept/loosen the grip of fear and anxiety, my inbox is open (I’m a clinical psych PhD student and have lots of resources for existential/humanist therapy, compassion-focused therapy, CBT, DBT, etc.). I’ve probably read a lot of what you’re worried about, so you don’t need to worry about having any hazardous effect on me :)
Also, I’d love to learn more from you about your research! I like your posts.
I’d like to publicly take you up on the offer of sharing “any materials you might find helpful for coming to accept/loosen the grip of fear and anxiety”. Do you have recommendations that would likely benefit most people who deal with anxiety?
Hi! Yes :) I think a good framework for working on anxiety on your own is Self-Compassion Therapy (SCT). I like SCT for existential anxiety in particular because its success doesn’t hinge on your ability to change your external circumstances and it doesn’t presuppose your degree of worry is disproportionate relative to the “actual threat” posed by the object of your worry. Here are some exercises published by Kristin Neff, a well-regarded self-compassion researcher/practitioner: https://self-compassion.org/self-compassion-practices/. There are also lots of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) guided meditations online, e.g., https://www.jeffersonhealth.org/conditions-and-treatments/mindfulness-based-stress-reduction/mindfulness/mbsr-guided-practices—I’d look into the body scans to start, as anxiety often manifests as muscle tension and intervening on muscle tension can indirectly alleviate anxiety.
If you have access to insurance coverage for therapy, I would additionally recommend looking into Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). I’m partial to EFT overall for most clinical presentations, though I like CBT for social anxiety as I think social exposures can be quite powerful.
Outside of targeted mental health interventions, I’d recommend making time for loved ones, community, fun, creative play, exercise, etc. and limiting exposure to anxiety-provoking stimuli where possible. This may be obvious but it’s easy to forget about the basics.
Is this anxiety in the typical form of making it harder for you to do other things? Because yes, we all agree that it’s very bad outcome, but a critical point of the post is that you might want to consider ways to not do the thing that makes your life worse and doesn’t help.
It would be better if I were less anxious (though perhaps, not zero).
I guess I’m just claiming that this is probably not a matter of being dramatic etc. For instance, I used to read the Precipice before bed and had trouble sleeping. My girlfriend had to point out to me that maybe it was because of the Precipice (it didn’t consciously occur to me at all). I stopped reading it and slept fine again.
Did you read the Precipice during the day instead? I’d hate if the parable here was “avoid thinking about things you find stressful”. The parable “pay attention to your somatic experience and don’t mess up your circadian rhythm and wellbeing by dumping anxiety into your system before trying to sleep” is pretty good though.
Haha… well it looks by your profile you’re still managing to think about things you find stressful. “chances of AGI in the next few years are high enough (though still <50%) that it’s best to focus on disseminating safety relevant research as rapidly as possible”… so no problems there. Hope my comment didn’t come across as mean.
Also you’re advised by Marcus Hutter? That’s cool! I got a copy of “Universal Artificial Intelligence” I want to get to reading sometime. Could I DM you and talk about UAI sometime?
Sure, anytime. I also organize the AIXI research community here: https://uaiasi.com
There is a reading group on the newer one “an introduction to UAI” running now (mostly finished but maybe we’ll start another round). The old book still has advantages.
Agree that it’s not just about being dramatic / making the problem about you. But that was only one of the points Eliezer made about why people could fail at this in ways that are worth trying to fix. And in your case, yes, dealing with the excessive anxiety seems helpful.
I have no plans to go insane, but I’m certainly pretty anxious about everyone dying.
Try applying:
Is the potential astronomical waste in our universe too small to care about?
Shut Up and Divide?
Also recall that we’re in a tiny tiny corner of Reality (whatever Tegmark level it is, it’s probably much larger than what we can see), and it’s pretty unclear how to update EU(Reality | human history).
I don’t believe in large mathematical multiverses.
Do you believe in a quantum multiverse, or a spatially infinite universe (beyond the observable universe)? You can get a similar conclusion with either of these (which are Tegmark Levels 3 and 1, respectively).
More plausible, somewhat comforted that some branches could survive. However, my brain works by caring about what I can effect and observe. For instance, this kind of argument is not going to make me less worried about S-risks (or just personally being tortured) or like, even my friends and family dying.
Hey Cole! I also went through a period of feeling pretty worried about s-risks, and have recently come out the other side. If you’d like someone to talk to, or even any advice re: any materials you might find helpful for coming to accept/loosen the grip of fear and anxiety, my inbox is open (I’m a clinical psych PhD student and have lots of resources for existential/humanist therapy, compassion-focused therapy, CBT, DBT, etc.). I’ve probably read a lot of what you’re worried about, so you don’t need to worry about having any hazardous effect on me :)
Also, I’d love to learn more from you about your research! I like your posts.
I’d like to publicly take you up on the offer of sharing “any materials you might find helpful for coming to accept/loosen the grip of fear and anxiety”. Do you have recommendations that would likely benefit most people who deal with anxiety?
Hi! Yes :) I think a good framework for working on anxiety on your own is Self-Compassion Therapy (SCT). I like SCT for existential anxiety in particular because its success doesn’t hinge on your ability to change your external circumstances and it doesn’t presuppose your degree of worry is disproportionate relative to the “actual threat” posed by the object of your worry. Here are some exercises published by Kristin Neff, a well-regarded self-compassion researcher/practitioner: https://self-compassion.org/self-compassion-practices/. There are also lots of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) guided meditations online, e.g., https://www.jeffersonhealth.org/conditions-and-treatments/mindfulness-based-stress-reduction/mindfulness/mbsr-guided-practices—I’d look into the body scans to start, as anxiety often manifests as muscle tension and intervening on muscle tension can indirectly alleviate anxiety.
If you have access to insurance coverage for therapy, I would additionally recommend looking into Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). I’m partial to EFT overall for most clinical presentations, though I like CBT for social anxiety as I think social exposures can be quite powerful.
Outside of targeted mental health interventions, I’d recommend making time for loved ones, community, fun, creative play, exercise, etc. and limiting exposure to anxiety-provoking stimuli where possible. This may be obvious but it’s easy to forget about the basics.
Is this anxiety in the typical form of making it harder for you to do other things? Because yes, we all agree that it’s very bad outcome, but a critical point of the post is that you might want to consider ways to not do the thing that makes your life worse and doesn’t help.
It would be better if I were less anxious (though perhaps, not zero).
I guess I’m just claiming that this is probably not a matter of being dramatic etc. For instance, I used to read the Precipice before bed and had trouble sleeping. My girlfriend had to point out to me that maybe it was because of the Precipice (it didn’t consciously occur to me at all). I stopped reading it and slept fine again.
Did you read the Precipice during the day instead? I’d hate if the parable here was “avoid thinking about things you find stressful”. The parable “pay attention to your somatic experience and don’t mess up your circadian rhythm and wellbeing by dumping anxiety into your system before trying to sleep” is pretty good though.
....no
Haha… well it looks by your profile you’re still managing to think about things you find stressful. “chances of AGI in the next few years are high enough (though still <50%) that it’s best to focus on disseminating safety relevant research as rapidly as possible”… so no problems there. Hope my comment didn’t come across as mean.
Also you’re advised by Marcus Hutter? That’s cool! I got a copy of “Universal Artificial Intelligence” I want to get to reading sometime. Could I DM you and talk about UAI sometime?
Sure, anytime. I also organize the AIXI research community here: https://uaiasi.com
There is a reading group on the newer one “an introduction to UAI” running now (mostly finished but maybe we’ll start another round). The old book still has advantages.
Agree that it’s not just about being dramatic / making the problem about you. But that was only one of the points Eliezer made about why people could fail at this in ways that are worth trying to fix. And in your case, yes, dealing with the excessive anxiety seems helpful.
For sure, but nothing in this post seems directly helpful with the problem I’m describing?
“Actual LessWrong readers also sometimes ask me how I deal emotionally with the end of the world.
I suspect a more precise answer may not help. But Raymond Arnold thinks I should say it, so I will say it.
I say again, I don’t actually think my answer is going to help.”
I don’t think there’s any disagreement here.