Peterdjones comments on What is Metaethics? - Less Wrong

31 Post author: lukeprog 25 April 2011 04:53PM

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Comment author: Peterdjones 27 April 2011 05:30:44PM 1 point [-]

There is no reason I should avoid the words "ethics", "morality", etc, in a discussion of ethics, morality, etc. It is in fact, an unreasonable request on your part.

I am also unpersuaded that I need to be a "reductionist" on the topic. The material on reductionism on this site seems to me a charter for coming up with pseudo-solutions that just sweep the problems under the rug.

My substantive point remains that you have not made a case for eliminating ethics in favour of preferences.

Comment author: torekp 28 April 2011 01:54:28AM 2 points [-]

I'd like to hear more on this charter for pseudo-solutions. What's wrong with the mainstream LW picture? By private message or in this thread (if it's not too tangential) or in a new discussion thread.

Comment author: NMJablonski 27 April 2011 05:51:31PM 2 points [-]

Your substantive point is nonsensical. My physical, real world understanding of intelligent agents includes preferences. It does not include anything presently labeled "morality" and I have no idea what I would apply that label to.

I don't think you have anything concrete down there that you're talking about (I'd be excited to be wrong about this). So you can do your little philosophers dance in a world of poorly anchored words but I'm not going to take you seriously until you start talking about reality.

Comment author: Peterdjones 27 April 2011 06:13:10PM -2 points [-]

If you can't figure out what to apply "morality" to, that is your problem. Most people do not share it.

Comment author: NMJablonski 27 April 2011 06:22:25PM *  3 points [-]

Alright.

I'm going to give this one last shot. Can you explain, succinctly, what you're talking about when you say "morality"?

Comment author: Peterdjones 27 April 2011 07:03:14PM 0 points [-]

concern with the distinction between good and evil or right and wrong; right or good conduct

Comment author: NMJablonski 27 April 2011 07:11:47PM *  5 points [-]

What is it about conduct that makes it right and good as opposed to wrong and evil?

What is it that determines these attributes, if not human preference?

Comment author: [deleted] 27 April 2011 05:32:33PM 1 point [-]

The material on reductionism on this site seems to me a charter for coming up with pseudo-solutions that just sweep the problems under the rug.

Could you explain this further?

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