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In the 250 years since America’s founding, the idea that economic success is directly conflated with divine favor has only become more deeply ingrained, dressin

In the 250 years since America’s founding, the idea that economic success is directly conflated with divine favor has only become more deeply ingrained, dressing itself up in the philosophy of eugenics, various economic schools, and so-called “rationalism,” even as we have (nominally) moved ever farther away from its origins in Protestant Ideology. The idea that unemployment will take on a new meaning in this context seems unlikely. Quite the contrary, the idea that AI-driven dispossession is necessary and preordained to sanctify the wisdom and virtue of its creators seems to already be taking hold.

nice_byte 4y ago
> the idea that AI-driven dispossession is necessary and preordained to sanctify the wisdom and virtue of its creators seems to already be taking hold I am not seeing that anywhere. Most of what i see is astounding naivety like in your parent's comment - completely unfounded hope that "things will work out for everyone".
- bugglebeetle 4y ago
  Go look at anything Altman and his compatriots have said about the need for “alignment” in their creation of a supposed god, or the “long-termism” ideology from which much of this emerged, which is really little more than warmed over Calvinism.
  - nice_byte 4y ago
    I meant to say that I don't see anyone outright claiming that ai-induced poverty and dispossession is "actually a Good Thing" and those affected by it would "deserve it". Stating something like that would be way too stupid even for those completely detached from the everyday reality of normal people. On the contrary, constant attempts are made to smooth these things over by talking about UBI and how people will be free to pursue Things That Matter (tm).
    - bugglebeetle 4y ago
      There’s thinly-veiled versions of that all over this site now, but yes, that’s the point of all the ideological dressing. Mostly, it takes the form of “it’s impossible to stop progress now, how dare these Luddites stand in the way of free energy and curing every disease” etc
      - AlecSchueler 4y ago
        It's funny you say that while I've been called a luddite several times here for concern over deepfake abuse material.

nice_byte 4y ago

> the idea that AI-driven dispossession is necessary and preordained to sanctify the wisdom and virtue of its creators seems to already be taking hold I am not seeing that anywhere. Most of what i see is astounding naivety like in your parent's comment - completely unfounded hope that "things will work out for everyone".

bugglebeetle 4y ago
Go look at anything Altman and his compatriots have said about the need for “alignment” in their creation of a supposed god, or the “long-termism” ideology from which much of this emerged, which is really little more than warmed over Calvinism.
- nice_byte 4y ago
  I meant to say that I don't see anyone outright claiming that ai-induced poverty and dispossession is "actually a Good Thing" and those affected by it would "deserve it". Stating something like that would be way too stupid even for those completely detached from the everyday reality of normal people. On the contrary, constant attempts are made to smooth these things over by talking about UBI and how people will be free to pursue Things That Matter (tm).
  - bugglebeetle 4y ago
    There’s thinly-veiled versions of that all over this site now, but yes, that’s the point of all the ideological dressing. Mostly, it takes the form of “it’s impossible to stop progress now, how dare these Luddites stand in the way of free energy and curing every disease” etc
    - AlecSchueler 4y ago
      It's funny you say that while I've been called a luddite several times here for concern over deepfake abuse material.