The AGI accelerationist example really crystallizes the core problem: when the ideal future justifies ignoring present harm, you've stopped doing ethics and started doing theology. I've watched technical communities fall into this exact trap where mathematical elegance becomes more important than whetherthe system actually solves a real problem anyone has. The distinction between Full Idealism and Abstract Idealism feels like the differnce between building toward something and escaping into something.
Very well articulated. Over the course of my life, I have felt myself growing toward what you have identified here as Full Idealism, and it has been rewarding, but very hard. It means there is always work to be done, and it is difficult to feel cut out for that work.
On an almost daily basis, I have found it almost impossible to escape the deeply ironic thought, "If only everyone else was as practical as I am!"
I'm glad to be sharing this planet with others who are trying to shoulder the planet and lift. I do believe that enough of us can lift together for it to really matter.
> On an almost daily basis, I have found it almost impossible to escape the deeply ironic thought, "If only everyone else was as practical as I am!"
Yup.
We always start from where we are, and with who we are.
> I'm glad to be sharing this planet with others who are trying to shoulder the planet and lift. I do believe that enough of us can lift together for it to really matter.
Agreed with this too.
I don't think this will always be true, but for now, I believe we are lucky that it is.
The AGI accelerationist example really crystallizes the core problem: when the ideal future justifies ignoring present harm, you've stopped doing ethics and started doing theology. I've watched technical communities fall into this exact trap where mathematical elegance becomes more important than whetherthe system actually solves a real problem anyone has. The distinction between Full Idealism and Abstract Idealism feels like the differnce between building toward something and escaping into something.
Very well articulated. Over the course of my life, I have felt myself growing toward what you have identified here as Full Idealism, and it has been rewarding, but very hard. It means there is always work to be done, and it is difficult to feel cut out for that work.
On an almost daily basis, I have found it almost impossible to escape the deeply ironic thought, "If only everyone else was as practical as I am!"
I'm glad to be sharing this planet with others who are trying to shoulder the planet and lift. I do believe that enough of us can lift together for it to really matter.
> On an almost daily basis, I have found it almost impossible to escape the deeply ironic thought, "If only everyone else was as practical as I am!"
Yup.
We always start from where we are, and with who we are.
> I'm glad to be sharing this planet with others who are trying to shoulder the planet and lift. I do believe that enough of us can lift together for it to really matter.
Agreed with this too.
I don't think this will always be true, but for now, I believe we are lucky that it is.