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Alicorn comments on Unspeakable Morality - Less Wrong

27 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 04 August 2009 05:57AM

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Tags: morality just_give_up_already verbalizing metaethics

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Comment author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 04 August 2009 11:48:24PM 0 points [-]

I only think bad things can be also unethical when they are the result of deliberate or negligent actions/inactions by a person.

I think that's what I meant by:

Or do you mean that the event is bad and to be prevented, but cannot be termed "unethical"?

Comment author: Alicorn 04 August 2009 11:59:19PM 0 points [-]

They don't mean the same thing. It is not the case that all bad things must be "to be prevented".

Comment author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 05 August 2009 12:05:58AM 0 points [-]

What sort of event is bad, but not to be prevented?

Comment author: Alicorn 05 August 2009 12:06:43AM 1 point [-]

An event with no superior alternative that can be ethically brought about.

Comment author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 05 August 2009 12:08:25AM 0 points [-]

Hm. Okay, so it's an event that locally has negative utility relative to our set points, but locally maximizes relative to anything we can do about it. Fair enough.