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How would you even measure the improvement of mental health objectively? You can’t just measure some levels of neurotransmitters and say “okay this is better, d

by yladiz 2y ago

How would you even measure the improvement of mental health objectively? You can’t just measure some levels of neurotransmitters and say “okay this is better, dopamine went from X to Y” because the patient may not feel any better. It’s not like with a broken bone where you can look at an image of the bone and see that it has healed, you have to rely on what a person tells you, which is inherently subjective, and since a person can’t be cloned, you can’t have a “control” either.

Hasnep 2y ago
Just because you can't think of a way to measure mental health doesn't mean a way doesn't exist. Scientists have ways of measuring subjective things in objective ways, they're not perfect but you can read the papers where they define them and then find other papers where they're useful.
- Towaway69 2y ago
  Once it becomes measurable, then you can implant emotions into AI agents. Once you an AI identity that is emotionally indistinguishable from us non-AI identities and which is infinitely smarter than us, what purpose would we have left to fulfil?
  - NicholasGurr 2y ago
    My purpose would remain unchanged. What you’re asking is almost the same as asking, “If a person exists who is better (smarter, stronger, more attractive) than you, what point is there in existing?” Because I experience life subjectively and would prefer to continue doing that.
    - Towaway69 2y ago
      You make a good point - purpose is very subjective and personal. Maintaining that purpose regardless of outside influence becomes the hard bit! OTOH what happens if there is a whole species of beings who are smarter, stronger, … than our species? Would our collective purpose become to accept them as our betterment? Our personal purpose would vary greatly from fear to wonderment.
  - throw5959 2y ago
    To have fun? No idea how AI changes it...
brox 2y ago
Measurement of subjective wellbeing has a long history in healthcare and can be very useful for both treatment and research; see e.g. pain scales: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pain_scale https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pain_scale

by yladiz 2y ago

Hasnep 2y ago

Just because you can't think of a way to measure mental health doesn't mean a way doesn't exist. Scientists have ways of measuring subjective things in objective ways, they're not perfect but you can read the papers where they define them and then find other papers where they're useful.

Towaway69 2y ago
Once it becomes measurable, then you can implant emotions into AI agents. Once you an AI identity that is emotionally indistinguishable from us non-AI identities and which is infinitely smarter than us, what purpose would we have left to fulfil?
- NicholasGurr 2y ago
  My purpose would remain unchanged. What you’re asking is almost the same as asking, “If a person exists who is better (smarter, stronger, more attractive) than you, what point is there in existing?” Because I experience life subjectively and would prefer to continue doing that.
  - Towaway69 2y ago
    You make a good point - purpose is very subjective and personal. Maintaining that purpose regardless of outside influence becomes the hard bit! OTOH what happens if there is a whole species of beings who are smarter, stronger, … than our species? Would our collective purpose become to accept them as our betterment? Our personal purpose would vary greatly from fear to wonderment.
- throw5959 2y ago
  To have fun? No idea how AI changes it...

brox 2y ago

Measurement of subjective wellbeing has a long history in healthcare and can be very useful for both treatment and research; see e.g. pain scales: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pain_scale https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pain_scale