Message from @oojimaflip
Discord ID: 663881933436092437
we strive for plenty of balance. Getting enough sleep but not too much, eating enough food but not too much
because there are high rewards for exploring the unknown
have you seen *humans* lately? they look as balanced as weebles.
Weebles wobble but they won't fall down
I think most of human psychology has roots that date far before modern times.
I agree
So I don't think saying like. "dude x in modern times has a problem, therefore being like dude x is ideal"
if anything, dude x having a problem is a sign he's not living an optimal lifestyle
he's off balance
he's out of his element
his body is seeking a balance that it is not recieving
in other words, someone being out of balance and suffering for it is not proof that we don't need balance
I might suggest that *imbalance* has been increasing since the Industrial Revolution; prior to this point imbalanced individuals would likely not have succeeded in passing on their genes.
yeah, and this causes a malaise because as balance seeking animals not finding out balance is causing us problems
but we clearly aren't seeking balance.
otherwise the trend would be in the opposite direction.
Balance is not innate, all forms of life are maximisers.
our balance seeking mechanisms have likely been functioning for millions of years, its not adapted to the radical changes that have been happening in the last centuries.
life does not seek balance, it exploits every niche it can, why would humans be exceptional?
because that statement is false?
ok, we'll take one factor
try to survive without seeking balance of temperature
we'll maximise temperature, get it hotter and hotter, see how well you survive lol
I could take off my clothes? jump in a pool?
wait
some humans actually live in deserts.
why take your clothes off
why jump in a pool
sounds like you want
a balance?
😮
not too hot
not too cold
only because that balance maximises my predictive capability 😉
no, it stops you from dying directly
I am concluding that balance is often a way to maximise predictability
its a bit silly to be like "why don't you want to get shot in the head" "because muh predictive capability"
people have survived being shot in the head though
there are odds involved
If I don't strike a balance between putting my face in front of a loaded gun and not doing so, if I favour *never* putting my face in front of a loaded gun I maximise the odds of not getting shot in the face.