Wei_Dai comments on Boredom vs. Scope Insensitivity - Less Wrong

37 Post author: Wei_Dai 24 September 2009 11:45AM

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Comment author: Wei_Dai 24 September 2009 07:12:29PM 8 points [-]

Compare:

  • shut up and think
  • shut up and compute
  • shut up and multiply

It seems to me that besides not just relying on feelings and intuitions, "compute" has the connotation that we already know what the right morality is, and can just apply it mechanically, and "multiply" has the additional connotation that the right morality values lives linearly. Shouldn't we use the phrase that most accurately conveys our intended meanings?

Comment author: wedrifid 24 September 2009 07:33:08PM 2 points [-]

Vladmir makes a good point. Multiply has the connotation that expected outcomes are best determined by probability. It doesn't comment on whether one should value lives linearly (or at all). It does imply utilitarianism. At least, it implies that the expected outcome is significantly relevant to your decision. I'm not sure what Vladmir means by 'total utilitarianism'.

It seems to me that besides not just relying on feelings and intuitions, "compute" has the connotation that we already know what the right morality is, and can just apply it mechanically

I agreed up to here.