Stoa Conversations: Stoicism Applied
Goodhart's Law and Stoicism (Episode 165)
Jan 7, 2025
Explore the intriguing implications of Goodhart's Law in measuring philosophical progress. The discussion highlights the pitfalls of treating metrics as targets within Stoicism. Learn how true fulfillment stems from practicing Stoic principles rather than just knowing them. Insights from Epictetus emphasize transforming knowledge into actionable virtue for meaningful growth. Dive into the complexities of aligning metrics with genuine objectives in your journey through Stoicism.
16:36
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Quick takeaways
- Goodhart's Law illustrates how focusing on measures like test scores can undermine genuine learning and intellectual growth in education.
- Stoicism emphasizes the importance of ethical action and character development over merely quoting philosophers or superficial knowledge of the principles.
Deep dives
Understanding Goodhart's Law
Goodhart's Law states that when a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure. This principle is illustrated through examples such as education, where students often optimize their efforts to achieve high test scores rather than genuinely learning the material. As a result, their focus shifts away from intellectual growth towards merely performing well on exams. This tendency undermines the initial purpose of education, which is to cultivate knowledge and understanding.
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