Psychohistorian comments on Unknown knowns: Why did you choose to be monogamous? - Less Wrong

48 Post author: WrongBot 26 June 2010 02:50AM

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Comment author: Psychohistorian 30 June 2010 04:21:04PM 4 points [-]

Easily. I'm sure there are at least that many Americans who hate America.

But that's besides the point. I don't think unusual and extreme examples are very probative in determining how people feel more generally. I think that when you get as absurd a hypothetical as "erase the US entirely," the evidence provided by it is irrelevant.

That said, I do agree with you that, in general, people do not generally care about the overall happiness and flourishing of mankind. I think reducing the problems posed by jealousy would actually lead to significant individual gains for those involved, but it's such a gut reaction that I don't think people acknowledge this. Plus, less jealousy would probably mean less concern over commitment, which I expect would lead to more sex in general (among other things), and plenty of people have a problem with that.

Comment author: randallsquared 01 July 2010 12:37:58AM 0 points [-]

Easily. I'm sure there are at least that many Americans who hate America. I think that when you get as absurd a hypothetical as "erase the US entirely," the evidence provided by it is irrelevant.

Well, there is that. :)