Eurykosmotron

Eurykosmotron, led by Ben Goertzel, delves into AGI development, consciousness exploration, decentralized politics, and radical futurism, integrating cutting-edge science with metaphysical ponderings. Posts explore paths to beneficial AGI, the nature of consciousness, decentralized systems, and the implications of technologies like NFTs, often through a lens of optimism and open-minded inquiry.

Artificial General Intelligence Consciousness and Technology Decentralization Futurism and Transhumanism Metaphysics and Philosophy Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Quantum Biology Ethics in AI Decentralized Finance Paraconsistent Logic

The hottest Substack posts of Eurykosmotron

And their main takeaways

Why the Good Guys Will Usually Win

353 implied HN points • 09 Jul 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics Logic Metaphysics Epistemology Aesthetics
  1. Good guys are likely to win and open-mindedness prevails over closed-mindedness across the multiverse.
  2. Prosocial communities are smarter and better at problem-solving than communities of distrustful individuals.
  3. In a diverse and open environment, good and open-minded agents are more likely to prevail and positively influence society.

Robust Cognitive Strategies for Resource-Rich Minds

353 implied HN points • 26 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Cognition AI Quantum Ethics
  1. Living in scarcity shapes our thinking and behavior, but abundance can lead to new cognitive strategies.
  2. Feasible abundance can change how we approach problem-solving and relationships, leading to more optimism for the future.
  3. With abundant cognitive resources, we could develop new strategies like sampling from possible multiverses and maintaining a history of prior versions.

The Rise of the Closed-Ended Quasi-Humans?

393 implied HN points • 24 Aug 22
  1. Training deep neural networks to emulate human-like functionality without abstract representation is a direction AI is moving towards.
  2. Closed-ended quasi-humans may be able to emulate everyday human behaviors but lack innovation and deep thinking capabilities.
  3. A closed-ended quasi-human is limited in its ability to adapt to new situations, create art, or make groundbreaking scientific discoveries.
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Three Viable Paths to True AGI

373 implied HN points • 25 Aug 22
  1. Deep neural nets and current ML algorithms are unlikely to lead to human-level AGI
  2. Three potential paths to True AGI include a cognition-level approach, brain-level approach, and chemistry-level approach
  3. Exploring brain simulation, algorithmic chemistry, and hybrid AGI systems may pave the way for True AGI

Facing the Meta-Abstracted Dragon

314 implied HN points • 31 Jul 22
  1. Bengoertzel discusses Jungian archetypes and their connection to cognitive systems theory
  2. Moore's book 'Facing the Dragon' explores grandiosity as a primary mode of Evil
  3. Understanding and respecting one's limits while also being open to transcending them is key to healthy cognitive functioning

How Superhuman Superminds Will (Mostly) Transcend Suffering

314 implied HN points • 12 Mar 22
  1. Death may not be as inevitable as we think, with possibilities like human superlongevity.
  2. Pain is seen as necessary for humanity's evolution, but future superminds may not need to experience it as much.
  3. Minimizing attachment can help reduce suffering in future minds, potentially leading to less pain and more enhanced consciousness.

Symbolic Ruminations on Non-Symbolic Consciousness

196 implied HN points • 06 Aug 22
  1. Enlightened individuals in Persistent Non-Symbolic States understand symbols as representations, not the real thing.
  2. To evolve towards a non-symbolic state, individuals must decrease emotional attachment to concepts and human relationships.
  3. Properly placing symbols in the mind can lead to a healthier state of consciousness and open new paths for evolution.

Can All Human Concepts Be Reduced to Combinations of a Few Primitives?

275 implied HN points • 14 Mar 22
  1. The idea of reducing all human concepts to a small set of primitives is complex but appealing for cognitive architecture design.
  2. Semantic primitives are essential for human intelligent world-building, but defining them is challenging.
  3. To achieve a high level of coverage for human concepts, we may need a large, evolving set of primitives rather than a small finite set.

NFTs and the Gamification of the Global Economy

275 implied HN points • 07 Mar 22
  1. NFTs highlight how economic value is based on symbols and social meaning.
  2. NFTs and other digital games are shaping the future of the global economy.
  3. Automation is shifting human work towards status, attention, and digital money games.

The Coming Consciousness Explosion

373 implied HN points • 04 Jun 21
  1. The technological acceleration is leading humanity towards a posthuman age.
  2. Advancing consciousness is crucial for ethical AI development and societal transformation.
  3. The shift towards a Consciousness Explosion is a gradual and interconnected process, facilitated by decentralized networks.

God Doesn't Cook the Books

176 implied HN points • 15 Jan 22
  1. Physics and computation are closely related, with logical derivations in physics mirroring computational models.
  2. Conservation laws in physics, such as conservation of energy, may be viewed as results of computational or logical phenomena.
  3. The conservation of energy in physics can be linked to the conservation of evidence in computational probabilistic reasoning systems.

The Logic of Pain and the Poverty of Punishment

157 implied HN points • 15 Jan 22
  1. Training humans and dogs using punishment is suboptimal compared to training insects
  2. Pain can be reduced to near zero post-Singularity through reflexive modeling and avoiding extreme dangers
  3. Pain may not be necessary for complex minds like AGIs or uploaded humans post-Singularity

Open-Ended Motivations

176 implied HN points • 13 Aug 21
  1. Open-ended motivations in AGIs involve paraconsistent logic for formulating straightforward and natural motivational systems.
  2. Intelligence can be defined in various ways, including adaptation to unpredictable situations under limited resources and the ability to achieve complex goals.
  3. In multi-agent systems, cooperation is key for success, where each agent aims to stay on the Pareto frontier considering individual and group utility.

Parafinity

117 implied HN points • 15 Jan 22
  1. Constructive nonstandard analysis allows doing calculus without actual infinities.
  2. Parafinity explores numbers on the boundary between finite and infinite.
  3. Paraconsistent logic can help in the process of self-transcendence in cognitive systems.

Paraconsistent Interzones

157 implied HN points • 13 Aug 21
  1. Consistency in logic and reasoning is valuable, but limited inconsistency can also be useful for real-world applications.
  2. Paraconsistent interzones act as intermediaries between different cognitive spaces with varying forms of consistency, facilitating interaction and compatibility.
  3. Exploring paraconsistent logic can lead to insights in physics, consciousness, quantum biology, and resonance patterns, offering a new perspective on complex phenomena.

The Mind-Blowing/Growing Paraconsistency of Beauty

137 implied HN points • 23 Sep 21
  1. The concept of beauty involves a balance between fulfilling expectations and surprising elements.
  2. Individuation and self-transcendence are key aspects of beauty and open-ended intelligence.
  3. Paraconsistent reasoning and syntension play crucial roles in understanding beauty and enlightened consciousness.

General Theory of General Intelligence

157 implied HN points • 02 Jun 21
  1. Motivations for working on AGI can include understanding how minds work and solving human problems.
  2. There is a balance between theoretical understanding and practical engineering in pursuing AGI.
  3. Different approaches to AGI development include theory-first, cognitive architecture based AI, and modern deep neural net based AI.

Exploring the Reality of Psi

78 implied HN points • 30 May 21
  1. Psi phenomena are real and supported by empirical data
  2. Navigating through the misinformation and skepticism surrounding psi can be challenging but important
  3. Lack of current scientific explanation for psi doesn't negate its existence or significance

The Emerging Power of Decentralization

58 implied HN points • 30 May 21
  1. Decentralization offers positive transformation for society and economy.
  2. Decentralized networks avoid corrupt central control structures but need careful implementation.
  3. Decentralized finance, smart contracts, and proof of stake mechanisms are key elements in the decentralized technology landscape.

Radical Futurism for Newbies

58 implied HN points • 30 May 21
  1. Radical futurism envisions dramatic changes through advanced technology for human bodies, minds, and societies.
  2. Key topics in radical futurist thinking include transhumanism, exponential advance, and the singularity.
  3. Themes like radical life extension, nanotechnology, AI, and mind uploading are central to radical futurism discussions.

Sketch of an AGI Curriculum

58 implied HN points • 30 May 21
  1. The AGI curriculum could be structured into six main courses covering history, AI algorithms, neuroscience & psychology, philosophy of mind, AGI theories & architectures, and future of AGI.
  2. The AGI curriculum suggests several key books in each category that could serve as core reading materials for anyone serious about getting into AGI.
  3. Additional resources include a mix of classic and modern books, as well as the author's own works and thoughts on AGI, forming a comprehensive guide for those interested in the field.

Ben Goertzel's Blog: Change of Venue

0 implied HN points • 28 Apr 21
  1. Ben Goertzel is shifting his personal blog from Blogger to Substack.
  2. He plans to cover various topics like AI, philosophy, politics, and more on Substack.
  3. Ben Goertzel will be more interactive with commenters and share excerpts from his upcoming book.