Life Choice: Should Someone Highly Interested in AGI Research Jeopardize Their Existing Career to Pursue It?

Showing only those parts of the discussion that lead to #3877.

See full discussion·See most recent related ideas
  Log in or sign up to participate in this discussion.
With an account, you can revise, criticize, and comment on ideas.

Discussions can branch out indefinitely. Zoom out for the bird’s-eye view.
Dennis Hackethal’s avatar
Dennis Hackethal, 5 days ago·#3746

Read The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. That should give you some fuel to move forward.

If that’s too long, watch ‘The Simplest Thing in the World’

Tyler Mills’s avatar
Tyler MillsOP revised about 6 hours ago·#3874
2nd of 2 versions leading to #3877 (2 total)

The Fountainhead is on my list. Listened to ‘The Simplest Thing in the World’. One message seems to be that one's creativity will continuously resist attempts to coerce it into doing something it doesn't want. A will of its own. I feel such resistance acutely at this current job, more so but no differently than during previous jobs and assignments, as we all have. But what is the import of the story to the present debate? My creative muse will continue fighting me so long as I'm trying to steer it towards other things? I have no doubt. The questions here are over what is practical, secure and strategic, all largely in the financial sense--or so I think. Where does one draw the line between passion and security? Maybe there is no general-purpose explanation. I will continue reflecting.

Criticism of #3746Criticized1*
Dennis Hackethal’s avatar
Dennis Hackethal, 2 days ago·#3826

The questions here are over what is practical, secure and strategic, all largely in the financial sense--or so I think.

There’s nothing practical about working a job you hate. There’s nothing practical about fighting yourself.

Where does one draw the line between passion and security?

There’s no security in not pursuing your passion, and there’s no need to make this kind of tradeoff anyway.

Criticism of #3874Criticized2*
Tyler Mills’s avatar
Tyler MillsOP, about 6 hours ago·#3877

There's no security in not pursuing your passion

Do we mean by security something other than food/water/shelter? Or, resisting your passion only buys temporary security? This isn't true; people go their whole lives resisting their passions, and are secure.

Criticism of #3826