Whether or Not to Have Kids, Transformative Experiences, and More — L.A. Paul

Despite two 'disastrous' early philosophy classes and a strong background in chemistry, L.A. Paul felt a deep yearning to understand the world in a way that chemistry could not satisfy. A chance encounter with philosopher Quenton Smith, who recognized her intellectual drive, led her to self-study and eventually pursue a PhD in philosophy.

L.A. Paul devised a unique method of learning philosophy by corresponding directly with multiple philosophers through mail. She would send them 20-page analyses of their books, and they would send back detailed responses, effectively providing a personalized, informal pedagogical supervision.

The vampire thought experiment involves being offered the chance to become a vampire. Even if current vampires attest to being happy, a human cannot truly comprehend the experience or the changed preferences (like thirst for blood) until they become one. It illustrates that for truly transformative experiences, you cannot know what it's like before undergoing it, and you'll become an 'alien version of yourself.'

Act-State Independence is an axiom in rational choice theory assuming that your preferences remain constant through an experience. For transformative experiences, this breaks down because the act itself (e.g., having a child) fundamentally changes your state and preferences, making typical rational calculation impossible.

Instead of trying to calculate value, L.A. Paul suggests reframing the choice as deciding whether you want to *discover* that new way of living, acknowledging the inherent suffering and change it will bring. It's about which life feels more appealing to find out about, rather than an informed rational decision.

L.A. Paul recommends philosophical fiction by authors like Ted Chiang and Jorge Luis Borges. For non-fiction, she suggests her own book 'Transformative Experience' (reading the first 100 pages), the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy online (with AI assistance for translation if needed), and the Oxford 'Very Short Introductions' series, particularly on epistemology.

Popular media often conflates our subjective 'experience of time' with 'time itself,' leading to misunderstandings. Similarly, 'Free Will' is frequently discussed by neuroscientists without sufficient engagement with philosophical literature, leading to oversimplified or misinformed conclusions.

Continental philosophy (e.g., Heidegger, Foucault) originated arguably on the European continent, often focusing on broad topics like the nature of being and having stronger connections to psychoanalysis. Analytic philosophy (e.g., Russell, Wittgenstein), which originated in the UK, is characterized by rigorous conceptual analysis and connections to contemporary science and empirically grounded psychology.

L.A. Paul believes philosophy is crucial for navigating foundational shifts in life, as well as for applications in bioethics, artificial intelligence (particularly value alignment and ethics in AI), political philosophy, and the philosophy of law.

L.A. Paul views cognitive decline as a transformative experience that requires grappling with. She references Buddhist teachings on suffering and attachment, hoping to 'reconfigure' what she cares about by detaching from stressful obligations and achievements, and instead finding joy in art, music, food, and relationships, even in an assisted living facility.

Psychedelics can induce neurological changes that profoundly alter perceptions and how one understands themselves in the world. This 'epistemic shift' allows individuals to learn that reality is a construction of the mind, providing an enriched sense of how humans build their understanding of the world, similar to seeing color for the first time.