Sewing-Machine comments on The Problem With Trolley Problems - Less Wrong

11 Post author: lionhearted 23 October 2010 05:14AM

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Comment author: [deleted] 25 October 2010 07:43:47PM 2 points [-]

Physicists ignore friction when teaching, when thinking, and when performing experiments. Doing so reduces confusion, and allows for greater understanding of the effects of friction once attention is turned to it.

The fact that the analogous situation in moral philosophy increases confusion is revealing.

Comment author: Perplexed 25 October 2010 07:46:41PM 2 points [-]

Yes. It reveals that physicists understand their subject well enough to know what can profitably be ignored ... but moral philosophers do not.

Comment author: [deleted] 25 October 2010 07:48:20PM 0 points [-]

I don't disagree.