ArisKatsaris comments on Punishing future crimes - Less Wrong

3 Post author: Bongo 28 January 2011 09:00PM

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Comment author: ArisKatsaris 31 January 2011 02:34:45PM -1 points [-]

But the problem isn't stated so, it's not symmetrical, it's about "ruining his evening", which a lost opportunity to add $40 to my net worth won't cause for me.

I disagree with you on how the problem was stated -- "ruining his evening" isn't the only effect. You also get 40 dollars.

But even with a rephrasing that'd use the words "burning Hitler's wallet' instead (so that there's no benefit of 40 dollars for me) I might value satisfying my sadistic desire to ruin Hitler's evening more than I valued Hitler keeping his 40 dollars. Or not -- it depends how much I tolerated sadism against evil dictators in myself.

That doesn't mean I would kill Hitler for the emotional satisfaction (always assuming there's no measurable difference one way or another to future horrors): I value human life (even Hitler's life) more than I value my brief personal emotional satisfaction at having vengeance done.