Comment on What is Metaethics?

Fri, 06 May 2011 21:49:03 GMT

Ahh, I re-read the thread with this understanding, and was struck by this:

I like using the word "preference" to include all the things that drive a person, so I'd prefer to say that your preference has two parts

It seems to me that the simplest way to handle this is to assume that people have multiple utility functions.

Certain utility functions therefor obviously benefit from damaging or eliminating others. If I reduce my akrasia, my rationality, truth, and happiness values are probably all going to go up. My urge to procrastinate would likewise like to eliminate my guilt and responsibility.

Presumably anyone who wants a metaethical theory has a preference that would be maximized by discovering and obeying that theory. This would still be weighted against their existing other preferences, same as my preference for rationality has yet to eliminate akrasia or procrastination from my life :)

Does that make sense as a "motivation for wanting to change your preferences"?

Discuss