= 27d567bc2d48d9f40e9ccc20ea370b15)
MixedNuts comments on Metacontrarian Metaethics - Less Wrong
You are viewing a comment permalink. View the original post to see all comments and the full post content.
= 783df68a0f980790206b9ea87794c5b6)
Loading…= b715d02e85f7b3b4ae65ca3d3e450868)
Subscribe to RSS Feed
Powered by Reddit
= f037147d6e6c911a85753b9abdedda8d)
You are viewing a comment permalink. View the original post to see all comments and the full post content.
Comments (75)
That's what makes heroism so poignant in real life. If you have to shoot an innocent but firmly believe it'll save the world, you'll probably brood a little (especially if there's also a cost to you), but mostly you'll get massive fuzzies. (I've never shot an innocent, but defending a cause you think is just is... more pleasant than it should be.) If you have to shoot an innocent and you expect it won't save the world but on average it's worth it anyway, it gnaws at you.
Heroism is throwing yourself on the tracks to save the greater number of people. Pushing somebody else may be an example of decisiveness, or courage (in the sense of grace under pressure) but there is nothing heroic about it.
This is a definitional dispute and an attempt at applause lights rather than a helpful comment.
I don't agree with your judgement. The applause light reference in particular doesn't seem fair.
If it's really purely a cost to others, okay. But usually there's also a cost to yourself - you push someone else and get a death sentence, or a life sentence, you push a loved one, or you're just eaten alive by guilt for the rest of your days.