The Power of Assumption
A viral LessWrong post theorizes a mental communication protocol that bypasses space, time, and language constraints.
A thought experiment titled 'The Power of Assumption' has gone viral on the rationality forum LessWrong, proposing a novel theory of mental communication. Written by user 'ysamuels', the post describes how individuals could theoretically communicate by assuming what benevolent others throughout history would want to say to them—particularly messages of comfort or support. This creates a 'mental space' where communication bypasses normal constraints of language, time, and physical space, though it cannot transmit genuinely novel ideas the receiver couldn't conceive independently.
The author extends this concept to coordination problems, pondering how two people using this method might arrange a physical meeting without direct communication, suggesting locations like the Eiffel Tower or internet forums as logical rendezvous points. The post has sparked significant discussion in the comments, with users linking to academic papers on similar concepts and debating practical applications. Some suggest this thinking was more valuable in eras with scarce communication, while others see potential for creating implicit intellectual taboos or coordination protocols among highly rational actors—a concept particularly relevant to AI safety and alignment communities where such implicit norms could prevent dangerous idea propagation.
- Proposes communication via assuming what others would say, creating therapeutic 'mental space' messages
- Theoretically bypasses language and spacetime constraints but cannot transmit novel ideas
- Discusses applications for coordination problems and creating implicit intellectual norms in rationalist/AI communities
Why It Matters
Explores foundational communication theory that could influence how AI systems and rationalist communities coordinate without explicit protocols.