this post was submitted on 20 Sep 2023
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People don't play basketball because Michael Jordan exists?
People don't play hockey because Wayne Gretzky exists?
People don't paint because Picasso exists?
People don't write plays because Shakespeare exists?
People don't climb Everest because Hillary and Norgay exist?
Are you telling me because you're not the best at everything you do, nothing is worth doing? Are you saying that if you're not the first person to do a thing, there's no enjoyment to be had? So what if the singularity means AI will solve everything- that just means there's more time for leisurely pursuits. Working for the sake of working is bullshit.
I think you might have misunderstood my point.
The OP was asking why, in a world where AI can think smarter and faster than humans and thus do everything a human could do but better, would humans do anything at all? I was pointing out that, pragmatically speaking, that's already the case- plenty of people do activities they're not the best at because the act itself is what brings enjoyment.
Using OP's logic, because Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player (or Chamberlain, or Bryant, or James, or insert whoever you think is the best) no one should be motivated to play basketball. And yet, lots of people still do, which means his premise- that people are only motivated to do things either because they're the best at it or they can meaningfully advance the field- must be flawed.
That's all well and good, but I'm talking about a world where you have ZERO chance at being the best at anything, or even being able to make any meaningful contribution to the field.
Being the best and making contributions is overrated. Eating curry noodles and exploring the world around me is where it's at. People shouldn't have to aspire to be a historical figure in order to feel like they're leading a fulfilling life.
That applies to 99% of humanity right now, either due to personal abilities or circumstances that keep them from reaching their potential.
Dog I'm not even the beat in my town at anything what are you on about
Are you the best basketball/baseball/hockey/$SPORTS_BALL player on the planet? If so, cool- can I get your autograph?
If not, why even play basketball/baseball/hockey/$SPORTS_BALL? Do you play basketball/baseball/hockey/$SPORTS_BALL not because you're the best, but because it's theoretically possible that every single basketball/baseball/hockey/$SPORTS_BALL player better than you might all simultaneously might die, leaving you as the best on the planet? You solely enjoy activities because it's technically but not practically possible that you would be the best ever, or "make meaningful contributions" to the sport? Or do you play just because the experience of playing is fun?
If someone told you that rock-climbing is fun, would you decide you're never going to do it because someone else already did? Or would it make you more likely to try it, because you want to know what that experience is like first-hand? You're ascribing nihilistic motivations to humanity that even you don't really believe in.
But you might be the best between humans. Humans will still have competition only between themselves.