Is maximizing a simple goal really easier? Rethinking paperclip rationality as an optimization problem
jessi_cata · x · 2026-09-18
The author argues that if rational action over time is a hard optimization/constraint-satisfaction problem, it's not obvious that rationally maximizing a simple goal (paperclips) is easier than maximizing a complex but computationally tractable one. Even under a world-model→counterfactuals→utility architecture, simple utility functions may not yield an efficient algorithm — the open question is the most tractable way to avoid diachronic Dutch books.
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