Based on your comments I think you do understand it but are taking it too seriously / too literally. Consider the title: Scott Alexander and others have writte

Based on your comments I think you do understand it but are taking it too seriously / too literally. Consider the title: Scott Alexander and others have written more clear, philosophically robust versions of a similar argument ("you shouldn't trade your agency for good outcomes"). But that's not the point here. This is the artsy version that's supposed to make you feel the argument.