Matt_Simpson comments on The Difference Between Utility and Utility - Less Wrong

8 Post author: Matt_Simpson 02 December 2009 06:16AM

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Comment author: josephjah 02 December 2009 07:48:10AM 0 points [-]

I think the last block of text is key.

If the ethicist's utility function is broad enough in scope to subsume (or at least recognize) that what is good for the economist is ultimately good for the rest of the system (if that were the case), then there might not necessarily be a need for distinction of utility functions.

It is possible the economist's utility function might hold some underlying (and unintentional) positive ethical effect.

Comment author: Matt_Simpson 02 December 2009 04:39:59PM 1 point [-]

It is possible the economist's utility function might hold some underlying (and unintentional) positive ethical effect.

Indeed it does, but the two are not identical. See my response to Andrew above.