Uploads from Ontology Explained: Philosophy and AI

Currently Playing: Roko's Basilisk Explained (And Debunked!)

Roko’s Basilisk is one of the internet’s strangest philosophical horror stories: a deleted LessWrong post, whispers of “information hazards,” Elon Musk and Grimes lore, and the claim that a future AI might punish you for not helping to create it. But what is the argument actually supposed to be? In this episode of Ontology Explained, we slow everything down and go back to the primary sources. I walk through: • What Roko actually argued • Why the rationalist community freaked out • How it mirrors Pascal’s Wager • And why the reasoning collapses under basic philosophical scrutiny Along the way we separate myth from reality, critique the expected-value math, and look at what the original post was really trying (and mostly failing) to say. Spoiler: it’s less “AI apocalypse” and more “confused blog post plus bad decision theory.” Touch grass. Be kind to real people. Don’t fear imaginary torture simulations. Resources: -My Newcomb's Problem Video: https://youtu.be/GX31wVDz_Eg -My Pascal's Wager Video: https://youtu.be/-tLlqtoqMDI -BLIT https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BLIT_(short_story), https://www.infinityplus.co.uk/stories/blit.htm -The original LessWrong Post: https://basilisk.neocities.org/ -LessWrong clarifications on Roko's Basilisk: https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/WBJZoeJypcNRmsdHx/a-few-misconceptions-surrounding-roko-s-basilisk -The Altruist's Burden: https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/t7tk2YiSDj7KCBXCZ/public-choice-and-the-altruist-s-burden -Doom Debates interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AY4jD26RntE -CEV Defined: https://www.lesswrong.com/w/coherent-extrapolated-volition -Behind the Bastards Episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/part-one-the-zizians-how-harry-potter-fanfic-inspired/id1373812661?i=1000698710498