Eugine_Nier comments on Folk grammar and morality - Less Wrong

20 Post author: Emile 17 December 2010 09:20PM

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Comment author: Eugine_Nier 17 December 2010 11:30:20PM 3 points [-]

Can this same analysis be applied to moral codes? If it can, even in principle, then we have some problems. As I understand it, "morality" is all about values. I think EY has considered this issue seriously, and has alluded to it in Three Worlds Collide.

You should look at the metaethics sequence.

Comment author: Tyrrell_McAllister 18 December 2010 05:38:29AM *  1 point [-]

I'm curious: Why has the parent comment received two downvotes?

Comment author: Perplexed 18 December 2010 05:47:05AM *  2 points [-]

Three now.

Mine was because I would like to see fewer comments here that simply suggest "Read the sequences" without suggesting why.

Comment author: Tyrrell_McAllister 18 December 2010 06:02:52AM *  6 points [-]

Mine was because I would like to see fewer comments here that simply suggest "Read the sequences" without suggesting why.

I can understand that that could sometimes be a problem. But doesn't Eugine's quotation make it clear that he was pointing to where "EY has considered [morality] seriously"?

I guess I was surprised because I'm inclined to view this kind of cross referencing as valuable. For example, it makes it easier for lurkers to follow a chain of links back to substantive explanations in the sequences. But I take your point that "Read the sequences" is way too broad to be useful, and "read the metaethics sequence" is still very broad.

But, in this case, Costanza had possibly implied an interest in Eliezer's views on morality. And, until Costanza expresses a more particular interest, the best that you can do is to direct him/her to the entire metaethics sequence.

Comment author: Perplexed 18 December 2010 03:50:07PM 3 points [-]

Yes. I accept your analysis. My downvote has now been backed out.

Now you have me curious as to why the other two downvotes happened. But not curious enough to request an explanation. Karma micromanagement postmortems are not the most productive use of our time. I'm going to make an early New Year's resolution and avoid them from now on.

Comment author: Randaly 18 December 2010 06:52:08AM 0 points [-]

I interpreted that sentence as saying, essentially, "Yeah, and I think Eliezer agrees with me in general, and here's a link to another source."

...Costanza? Care to clarify your intentions?

Also, in any case, linking ver to a ~43,000 word sequence is almost certainly less efficient than simply asking if s/he was curious about Eliezer's views on morality, and, if so, what specific questions s/he had.

Comment author: Costanza 18 December 2010 01:01:13PM 3 points [-]

Sorry I haven't participated in this sub-thread...I've been too busy reading the sequences.

Just kidding. Personally, I'm pretty new to Less Wrong and I've read some, but far from most of the material that may be relevant to this and other subjects. In the meantime, I don't know what I don't know, so a reference to the sequences is not offensive. I assume everyone who has commented so far has been acting in good faith.

Comment author: ata 18 December 2010 06:00:32AM *  5 points [-]

I think it made sense in context. The comment it was replying to said "I think EY has considered this issue seriously, and has alluded to it in Three Worlds Collide", and the reply linked to his full analysis of it. It didn't sound like an unexplained "Read the sequences!" to me.

(Though "You should look at..." may not be the best way to say something like that.)