mkehrt comments on Human errors, human values - Less Wrong

32 Post author: PhilGoetz 09 April 2011 02:50AM

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Comment author: PhilGoetz 09 April 2011 02:07:15PM 3 points [-]

There are a number of science fiction stories about uncomfortable utilitarian choices. "The Cold Equations" is the most famous. I think Heinlein wrote a novel that had a character who was in charge of a colony that ran out of power, and so he killed half of them in order for the remaining life support to be enough to let the others live until relief arrived. No one stopped him at the time, but after they were safe, they branded him a war criminal or something like that.

Comment author: mkehrt 10 April 2011 03:49:00AM *  1 point [-]

It's possible that you are referring to the secondary plot line of Chasm City by Alaistair Reynolds in which gur nagvureb wrggvfbaf unys gur uvoreangvba cbqf va uvf fgnefuvc, nyybjvat vg gb neevir orsber gur bguref va gur syrrg naq fb tnva zvyvgnel nqinagntr.

Comment author: PhilGoetz 10 April 2011 03:52:38AM 1 point [-]

No, that's different. I was referring to a commander who saved lives, but was condemned for doing that instead of letting everybody die.

Comment author: PhilGoetz 10 April 2011 03:51:30AM 0 points [-]

Does less-wrong have rot13 functionality built in?

Comment author: mkehrt 10 April 2011 03:53:14AM 1 point [-]