Should some topics be off limits for empirical investigation?
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Oops, I said 'never', but then I realized there's some research that imposes clear & present existential risks, such as genetically engineering bioweapons that could impose global pandemics, or some AI research.... Otherwise, 'never'.
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This is very close to how I would answer the question as well, but if someone presented compelling evidence that pursuing certain psychological questions likely would be catastrophic, I might rethink those. In the absence of such evidence, we should prioritize the truth.
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Seems like an arbitrary value judgment to me. No? Or you think this can be justified on “logical” grounds?
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What kind of AI research?
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Any that could lead to a self-catalyzing superintelligence 'take off' process. Or that puts AI in charge of crucial civilizational infrastructure, or nukes.
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I said "Only very very rarely" for reasons like this. But very very little restriction.
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I was more worried about topics where the only empirical techniques would be unethical: the question itself is not out of bounds but all methods for empirical investigation are
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I picked very rarely because of psycho-therapeutic junk science ruled a danger to society for good reason, and not recommended or recognized by most psych associations & medical professionals, that has been revived on campuses over the last decade (at the very least), has been
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pushed into our judicial systems once again and is causing a great deal of damage & destruction to many lives while eroding all of our rights, just as it did the first time. Anything proven to harm lives should be a no go.
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That’s where I am
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I also need to clarify, I said "Yes"; however what I actually mean is, that some methods that cause irreversible damage (or intolerable pain) to sentient beings should not be pursued. But any topic should be open to inquiry -- however, nowadays I prefer to steer clear of tastless
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