LessWrong (30+ Karma) “(Fantasy) -> (Planning): A Core Mental Move For Agentic Humans?” by johnswentworth
Nov 14, 2025
John S. Wentworth, a longtime contributor on rationality and agentic decision-making, explores the intriguing mental move from fantasy to practical planning. He reminisces about his childhood dreams of building an underwater Atlantis and creating a Quidditch field with magnetic levitation. Wentworth emphasizes how transforming fantasies into tangible projects fuels learning and agency. He contrasts this approach with typical decision-making, arguing that having a guiding vision is essential for fulfilling our imaginative aspirations.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Childhood Projects Sparked Technical Curiosity
- John S. Wentworth describes childhood projects inspired by Atlantis and Harry Potter that led him to imagine real engineering solutions.
- He tinkered with prototypes like a flying golden snitch despite lacking formal knowledge, illustrating imaginative hands-on exploration.
Fantasy-To-Planning As A Core Mental Move
- Wentworth identifies a mental move: encounter a fantasy, then plan how to make it real, as foundational for agency.
- He contrasts this back-chainy fantasy-to-planning approach with typical forward-chain option-based thinking.
Specific Fantasies Mapped To Disciplines
- Wentworth gives several examples where fantasies led to targeted learning needs like structural engineering and electrodynamics.
- Specific fantasies included underwater domes, quidditch stadiums, living dragons, and chore robots prompting course choices.
