PeteJ — LessWrong

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PeteJ — LessWrong

Replying toAI Alignment and the Classical Humanist Tradition

AI Alignment and the Classical Humanist Tradition

Note: I see this approach is also proposed by "AI Alignment Proposals"

This article explores the concept and potential application of bottom-up virtue ethics as an approach to instilling ethical behavior in artificial intelligence (AI) systems. We argue that by training machine learning models to emulate virtues such as honesty, justice, and compassion, we can cultivate positive traits and behaviors based on ideal human moral character. This bottom-up approach contrasts with traditional top-down programming of ethical rules, focusing instead on experiential learning. Although this approach presents its own challenges, it offers a promising avenue for the development of more ethically aligned AI systems.

Replying toAI Alignment and the Classical Humanist Tradition

PeteJ2y

AI Alignment and the Classical Humanist Tradition

Thanks for the reply. To comment on your reply, let me be more precise in what I believe are the problems this approach could address.

a) Assuming that the AI is already loyal, or at least following our wishes: how can we make sure that it takes human values into account in its decisions such that it doesn't mistakenly do something against these values?

I believe running every decision through a "Classical Virtue Ethics"-control, to be a way to do this.
As an analogy, we can train AI on grammar and rhetoric, by giving it a huge amount of literature to read, and it will be able to master the rules and applications of grammar

... (read more)

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AI Alignment and the Classical Humanist Tradition

PeteJ

Hi guys, I’d like to share a proposal regarding AI alignment. The proposal is that training AI in the curriculum of Classical Virtue ethics could be a promising approach to alignment. A) Because general virtues with many exemplifications can help us teach the AI what we would really want it to do, even when we can't micromanage it, and B) because this pedagogy seems to be a good fit for AI's style of learning more generally.

Background i) The Pedagogy of Classical Art

In the Classical Humanist Tradition the pedagogy of learning depends on whether one studies a subject, or practices an art. Art is understood as craft or skill, for example the art... (read 438 more words →)

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Replying toCatching the Eye of Sauron

PeteJ3y

Catching the Eye of Sauron

"You are, whether you like it or not, engaged in memetic warfare - and recent events/information make me think this battle isn't being given proper thought"

I'd like to chime in on the psychological aspects of such a warfare. I suggest that a heroic mindset will be helpful in mustering courage, hope and tenacity in fighting this cultural battle. In the following I will sketch out both a closer view of the heroic mindset, as well as a methodology for achieving it.

A) On the heroic mindset
Heroism is arguably "altruistic risk, resilience, and fundamental respect for humanity". One could see it as part of manliness, but one could also have gender-inclusive versions of heroism,... (read more)