Scott Alexander addresses misconceptions about Moloch and human values, clarifying points from his previous post on the subject. Longer summary

This post addresses several misconceptions about the concept of Moloch and human values, as discussed in a previous post. Scott clarifies that human values are not just about hedonism, explains how conquering the laws of physics is possible metaphorically, defends the potential truth value of widely-held beliefs, and acknowledges that while human values may have evolved through 'blind' processes, they can still be worth preserving. He uses analogies, philosophical arguments, and references to previous writings to counter these misconceptions, maintaining a somewhat technical but accessible tone throughout. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander discusses Robin Hanson's vision of a future with emulated humans, debating the preservation of human values and the nature of future societal coordination. Longer summary

Scott Alexander recounts a conversation with Robin Hanson about the future of humanity, focusing on Hanson's vision of a Malthusian future with emulated humans. They discuss the potential loss of human values like love in such a future, the concept of anti-predictions, and the ability of future societies to coordinate and solve problems. The dialogue touches on the speed of technological change, the preservation of values, and the potential for cultural variation in a post-human world. Scott challenges some of Hanson's views, particularly on the preservation of human values in a hypercompetitive future. Shorter summary