Here's a simple problem: there is a runaway trolley barreling down the railway tracks. Ahead, on the tracks, there are 3^^^3 people tied up and unable to move. The trolley is headed straight for them. You are standing some distance off in the train yard, next to a lever. If you pull this lever, the trolley will switch to a different set of tracks. However, you notice that there is one person, Eliezer Yudkowsky, on the side track. You have two options: (1) Do nothing, and the trolley kills the 3^^^3 people on the main track. (2) Pull the lever, diverting the trolley onto the side track where it will kill Yudkowsky.... (read 509 more words →)
I really liked the consequentialist FAQ!
I'm so revved up about MIRI's research!
A question: should we make a weekly Yudkowsky appreciation thread in the spirit of this thread? I mean, he's the founder of this community, so at least he deserves it.