substitute activity machines (28.05.2025)
When we free ourselves from some natural activity for the sake of convenience or due to other limitations (e.g., using a car instead of walking), then to maintain normalcy (e.g., mental/physical health), we ideally need some specific substitute activities to compensate for that missing part.
In the case of mobility, for example, it would be good if people who sit at a desk all day did sports for a couple of hours a week. Sports can of course be an inherently enjoyable activity that one shouldn't deny oneself in any way. What's important is to keep in mind what consequences arise if we don't implement these substitute activities for some reason. For example, if we sit at a desk and computer all day and then rest all evening on the couch in front of the TV.
I, for instance, have investigated whether I could have a machine read through scientific articles for me and extract the information that's important to me. In the end, to be honest, I've done it by hand myself anyway. Because I feel that to write a scientific article, I primarily need to experience, chew through, and digest the source material myself. Only this way do I construct my own understanding, my own knowledge, my own new thoughts from it. If I let someone else do this - for example, a machine - then first, I don't get a deep understanding of my source material.
Second, however, I would need to do some separate substitute activity for thinking, so that it doesn't get stuck in a rut. Again, this could be something inherently pleasant like chess. But at the same time, I enjoy the thinking that's necessary precisely for developing my perception and understanding through reading and writing. Replacing this with a substitute activity reminds me of the story of the man under a palm tree, to whom the differently colored man suggested not to laze around but to catch fish and sell them and buy several boats and hire several men and catch fish and sell them so that then it would be pleasant to laze under the palm. Why make things more complex?
Machines are probably useful for those who have to write things they already understand well enough or don't need to understand at all. Fortunately, I don't have such things on my desk. And I find that instead of building such machines that do these kinds of things for people, it would be more sensible to build worlds free from such needs.
I, for instance, have investigated whether I could have a machine read through scientific articles for me and extract the information that's important to me. In the end, to be honest, I've done it by hand myself anyway. Because I feel that to write a scientific article, I primarily need to experience, chew through, and digest the source material myself. Only this way do I construct my own understanding, my own knowledge, my own new thoughts from it. If I let someone else do this - for example, a machine - then first, I don't get a deep understanding of my source material.
Second, however, I would need to do some separate substitute activity for thinking, so that it doesn't get stuck in a rut. Again, this could be something inherently pleasant like chess. But at the same time, I enjoy the thinking that's necessary precisely for developing my perception and understanding through reading and writing. Replacing this with a substitute activity reminds me of the story of the man under a palm tree, to whom the differently colored man suggested not to laze around but to catch fish and sell them and buy several boats and hire several men and catch fish and sell them so that then it would be pleasant to laze under the palm. Why make things more complex?
Machines are probably useful for those who have to write things they already understand well enough or don't need to understand at all. Fortunately, I don't have such things on my desk. And I find that instead of building such machines that do these kinds of things for people, it would be more sensible to build worlds free from such needs.