Eliezer_Yudkowsky comments on Rational Terrorism or Why shouldn't we burn down tobacco fields? - Less Wrong

-2 Post author: whpearson 02 October 2010 02:51PM

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Comment author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 02 October 2010 08:09:01PM 6 points [-]

Ah yes, the standard argument against consequentialism: X has expected positive consequences, so consequentialism says we should do it. But clearly, if people do X, the world will be a worse place. That's why practicing consequentialism makes the world a worse place, and people shouldn't be consequentialists.

Personally I'll stick with consequentialism and say a few extra words in favor of maintaing the consistency of your abstract arguments and your real expectations.

Comment author: whpearson 02 October 2010 08:17:38PM 1 point [-]

It might be better for the world if people were consequentialists. I might be better off if I did more structured exercise. That doesn't mean I am going to like either of them.