Basic Tests of Rationality

These are basic “tests” of “rationality”. They aren’t foolproof, but they are generally illustrative. All assume access to internet, being an adult, and wanting a long, healthy, and happy life for themselves and the rest of humanity.

  • Wrote and lives by a life plan
  • Understood that AI would dominate the future and therefore decided to dedicate at least some of their resources to ensuring AI wouldn’t displace or destroy humanity
  • Has at least a >10% p(doom) from AI, atomic weapons or future technologies by 2100
  • Made a significant amount of money by predicting AI (e.g., by buying Nvidia, etc.), unless they didn’t have liquid capital or had a moral compunction against accelerating doom
  • Wrote an emergency preparedness plan before COVID-19, including what to do in case of a pandemic 
  • Writes relationship agreements with serious romantic partners before getting deep
  • Eats well, sleeps wells, exercises well, manages finances well, socializes well, and practices mindfulness well (except insofar as trauma or other constraints affect this)
  • Primarily invests via index funds or similar (unless exceptionally financially savvy or operating under special circumstances)
  • Doesn’t gamble except for limited recreational purposes
  • Doesn’t buy lottery tickets except for limited recreational purposes
  • Doesn’t believe in most conspiracy theories
  • Uses probabilistic language
  • Can pass the holistic understanding test on most topics they hold strong views on
  • Discovered LessWrong-style rationality and learned from the community