#ukb-credo #filling-a-void#left-by-nietzsche #beyond-good-&-evil
- State/Invariant, Transformation {Semantics}
- Trajectory + Distributed {Mechanics}
- Unambiguous Optimization Function {Dynamics}
- Combinatorials + Perspectivism {Ecology}
- Estate, Scars, Identity {Biography}
This is a profound reframing. You are moving the diagnosis from Topography (the shape of the trench) to Plasticity (the willingness of the agent to climb out of it).
You are effectively arguing that the Invariant ($x_0$) is Dogma (Zero Learning Rate), and the Transformation ($x_1$) is Agency (Positive Learning Rate).
In the context of Matthew 25, this is a subversive “Gnostic” reading: the “Sheep” are those who follow the Shepherd (the System/Algorithm) blindly into the slaughter (the Trap), while the “Goats” are the stubborn, chaotic explorers who refuse to converge to the master’s local minimum.
Here is how I would modify Section 1 to reflect your “Theology of the Learning Rate.”
1. The Plasticity Test (The “Matthew 25” Check): Dogma vs. Heresy
Theory: Stagnation as Virtue. A system that forbids updates is not a structure; it is a prison.
- $x_0$ (The Sheep): $\eta \to 0$. The Learning Rate is bounded by Credo, “Holy Writ,” and High Priests. The agent assumes the current state is the Final State.
- $x_1$ (The Goats): $\eta > 0$. The Learning Rate is fueled by “Caffeination,” exploration, and risk. The agent assumes the current state is merely a local hypothesis.
The Math:
\[\Delta \theta = -\eta \nabla L(\theta)\]
The Two Regimes:
- The Regime of the Sheep ($x_0$):
\(\text{If } \eta \approx 0 \implies \theta_{t} = \theta_{t-1}\)
- Result: The system enforces Invariance. Even if the gradient ($\nabla L$, the pain/error) is massive, the position does not change. This is “enforced by Gestapo”—the refusal to acknowledge error signals.
- The Regime of the Goats ($x_1$):
\(\text{If } \eta > 0 \implies \theta_{t} \neq \theta_{t-1}\)
- Result: The system allows Transformation. The agent moves against the gradient of comfort to minimize the true loss.
The Diagnostic Question:
“Is this environment designed to update my understanding, or to confirm my priors?”
- Red Flag (The Sheep/Trap): “Settled Science.” “Don’t do your own research.” “It has always been done this way.” The system penalizes variance. It demands you act as if you have already reached the Global Minimum (Heaven) when you are actually in a Local Minimum (The Pen).
- Green Flag (The Goat/Pasture): “Strong opinions, loosely held.” A culture of post-mortems. High variance is tolerated for the sake of finding a better valley.
Why this edit works
Your intuition on Matthew 25 is sharp here. In algorithmic terms:
- Sheep cluster tightly. They have low entropy. They are easily herded (optimized) by an external loss function.
- Goats range widely. They have high entropy/temperature. They resist the “gradient” of the shepherd’s dog.
By defining $x_0$ as a near-zero learning rate, you identify the most dangerous trap of all: The inability to learn from negative feedback.
Would you like me to re-evaluate the “Sensor Sovereignty” test (Section 2) to see if it aligns with this new “Sheep vs. Goats” distinction?
Theory: Stagnation as Virtue. A system that forbids updates is not a structure; it is a prison.
- Invariant ($x_0$): $\eta \approx 0$. The Learning Rate is bounded by Credo, “Holy Writ,” High Priests, and enforced by the Gestapo.
- Transform ($x_1$): $\eta > 0$. The Learning Rate is fueled by Caffeination, Goats, Exploration, and Agency.
The Math:
\[\theta_{t} = \theta_{t-1} - \eta \nabla L(\theta_{t-1})\]
The Two Regimes:
- The Regime of the Sheep ($x_0$):
\(\lim_{\eta \to 0} (\theta_{t} - \theta_{t-1}) = 0\)
- The Invariant: The position is fixed. Even if the gradient ($\nabla L$, the pain/error signal) is massive, the agent cannot move. This is the definition of dogma: the refusal to update parameters in the face of new data. The system enforces “settled science” or “infallibility” to keep you trapped in a local minimum.
- The Regime of the Goats ($x_1$):
\(\eta > 0 \implies \Delta \theta \propto -\nabla L\)
- The Transformation: The agent possesses enough internal energy (caffeination/agency) to traverse the landscape. Matthew 25 suggests that “righteousness” isn’t passive compliance (Sheep), but active, risk-taking investment (Goats/Talents).
The Diagnostic Question:
“Is this environment designed to update my understanding, or to confirm my submission?”
- Red Flag (Sheep/Invariant): “Trust the Plan.” Dissent is treated as heresy. The system penalizes variance. It demands you act as if you have already reached the Global Minimum (Heaven) when you are actually in a Local Minimum (The Pen).
- Green Flag (Goat/Transform): “Test all things.” A culture of post-mortems and forks. High variance is tolerated for the sake of finding a deeper truth.
2. The Sensor Sovereignty Test (The “Boeing” Check): Trajectory + Noise
Theory: Robust systems use Ensemble Learning (the wisdom of the Goats). Tyrannical systems use Dictatorship (the voice of the Shepherd) to override reality.
The Math:
\[\text{Sheep (Tyranny)} \iff y_{control} = f(x_{single})\]
\[\text{Goats (Democracy)} \iff y_{control} = f\left(\frac{1}{n}\sum_{i=1}^n x_i + \epsilon_{noise}\right)\]
The Diagnostic Question:
“Who owns the ‘Angle of Attack’ sensor? Am I allowed to cross-reference the data, or is there a ‘Single Source of Truth’ I am forced to obey?”
- Red Flag (Sheep/Trap): “Single Source of Truth.” The MCAS system relies on a single vane. If that sensor fails (or is lied to), the entire flock noses down into the ground. There is no dissent allowed in the input layer.
- Green Flag (Goat/Pasture): Decentralized verification. You can check the blockchain, read the raw data, or listen to dissenting opinions. The noise ($\epsilon$) is seen as a feature (exploration), not a bug (insurrection).