Lift Up Your Eyes
People keep asking me why I’m not horrified by a future of trillions of ems living at near subsistence wages. I’ve explained that “poor folks do smile“, that poor lives usually have plenty of joy and satisfaction, even if less than in rich lives. Most lives in poor societies are well worth living. But for many, such abstract words ring hollow – what they may need is to really see such lives for themselves. I haven’t seen it yet, but the new movie Lift Up seems promising for this purpose:
The old man wanted them to find joy, even in the sadness that accompanies death. … An 82-minute documentary called “Lift Up,” had its debut at the Haitian Embassy in Washington last month. Jean and Muse hope that, in its depiction of Haitians rejoicing despite the devastation dealt to their nation and their lives, the film evokes the spirit of their grandfather’s request. …
The brothers hope the film will introduce U.S. viewers to another side of Haiti, one that goes beyond the poverty, violence and suffering so often depicted in mass media. Growing up in Port-au-Prince, they saw the dark side of humanity but also reveled in warm households filled with extended family, days spent playing outside with packs of friends and a rich tradition of passing stories from one generation to the next. …
Over five days, the filmmakers captured scene after scene of children playing and people smiling as they remembered lost loved ones. “I didn’t see any of the negative things I had always heard about,” Knowlton said. “I only saw people coming together.” (more)
Added 8p: The world’s five happiest nations are: Nigeria, Mexico, Venezuela, El Savador, Puerto Rico. Far more people the world over, even in poor nations, call themselves ‘Very happy’ or ‘Quite happy’ than ‘Not very happy’ or ‘Not at all happy’.
2. Mexico
3. Venezuela
4. El Salvador
5. Puerto R
People prefer being rich to being poor in the same sense that Moths prefer flames to not-flames. This seems the most salient lesson from the studies on what correlates with happiness and what does not.
I seriously doubt evolution favors nonconscious machines. Virtually everything about us can be seen to be there because evolution favored it. Why would consciousness be any different?
P-zombies may be fun for philosophical discussions, but they are bullshit. A p-zombie is not going to sit there for hours reading blogs about consciousness and free will and is not going to say "ow" when you prick it, not in any kind of real life. Such a scenario is so insanely contrived that it is beyond unlikely to have any real meaning in the real world.
A human body and brain without a consciousness is like a car without a driver. Set it going 75 mph down the interstate and it will seem just like a car WITH a driver, for oh, maybe a minute.
I realize I am just asserting these things, sorry about that. They just don't seem to come out from the more thoughtful posters. Are my intuitions really that unique and irrational?