https://aaron-ang.github.io/blog/philosophy/Recent content in Philosophy on Aaron AngHugoen-usSat, 27 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://aaron-ang.github.io/there-is-no-reward-function-for-meaning/Sat, 27 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://aaron-ang.github.io/there-is-no-reward-function-for-meaning/<h3 id="we-only-celebrate-progress-once"><strong>We Only Celebrate Progress Once</strong></h3> <p>A century ago, sending word to another continent meant waiting weeks for a ship to cross the ocean. Today, we complain when a video call lags for half a second. For some reason, we celebrate a breakthrough once, then it quietly becomes the baseline.</p> <p>Smartphones condensed cameras, maps, encyclopedias, music players, and libraries into devices that fit in our pockets, yet we&rsquo;re quicker to notice a low battery than to appreciate all other aspects of convenience they bring to our lives. Once something remarkable becomes routine, we stop noticing it at all.</p>