Simulacrum Levels — LessWrong
Simulacrum Levels are a framework for analyzing different motivations people can have for making statements. One way to test which level someone is on is what would make them say the opposite of what they say now: By Strawperson: By Zvi: A concrete example of the above from Michael Vassar: Zvi describes the four children of the Seder (Passover) as the four (and one extra) simulacrum levels: "The wicked understand, acknowledge and value the Wise—they depend on the Wise for their own cynical gain. The simple don’t see the point of wisdom. Those who do not know how to ask don’t even know wisdom is a thing." —The Four Children of the Seder as the Simulacra Levels The origin of this framework is in Simulacra and Simulation by sociologist Jean Baudrillard. Simulacrum Levels are a framework for analyzing different motivations people can have for making statements. One way to test which level someone is on is what would make them say the opposite of what they say now: By Strawperson: By Zvi: A