CarlShulman comments on Shut Up and Divide? - Less Wrong

60 Post author: Wei_Dai 09 February 2010 08:09PM

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Comment author: CarlShulman 11 February 2010 07:37:42PM 1 point [-]

True.

Comment author: mattnewport 11 February 2010 07:40:50PM 1 point [-]

I also think it is worth noting that although utilitarianism remains a bafflingly (to me) popular ethical position around here it is very unusual in the broader population. Broadly libertarian ethics are probably less unusual in the general population than strict utilitarian ethics.

Comment author: thomblake 11 February 2010 07:45:35PM 2 points [-]

I'm pretty sure the prevailing view here is actually some sort of consequentialist egoism, not utilitarianism in a sense recognizable to an ethicist. Planning a top-level post about that.

Comment author: Rain 11 February 2010 07:54:42PM *  0 points [-]

I'd rather see a definition than a label. Calling it 'consequentialist egoism rather than utilitarianism' is perhaps useful to professional or enthusiast ethical philosophers, but it doesn't convey much information to me. A list of properties used in the ethical system would be far more useful.

Comment author: thomblake 11 February 2010 07:55:31PM 0 points [-]

Agreed. Thus the planned top-level post.