Peterdjones comments on Pluralistic Moral Reductionism - Less Wrong

33 Post author: lukeprog 01 June 2011 12:59AM

You are viewing a comment permalink. View the original post to see all comments and the full post content.

Comments (316)

You are viewing a single comment's thread. Show more comments above.

Comment author: poqwku 11 June 2011 12:08:06AM 2 points [-]

What reasons are there for doubting the existence of categorical imperatives that do not equally count against the existence of hypothetical imperatives? I can understand rejecting both, I can understand accepting both, but I can't understand treating them differently.

Comment author: Peterdjones 11 June 2011 09:56:05PM 0 points [-]

What reasons are there for doubting the existence of categorical imperatives that do not equally count against the existence of hypothetical imperatives?

The set of non-ethical categorical imperatives is non-empty. The set of non-ethical hypothetical imperatives is non-empty. Hypothetical imperatives include instrumental rules, you have to use X to achieve Y, game-laying rules, etc.

Comment author: poqwku 15 June 2011 12:28:41AM 0 points [-]

How exactly does this answer the question?

The set of non-ethical categorical imperatives is non-empty.

I agree. Epistemic imperatives are categorical, but non-empty.

The set of non-ethical hypothetical imperatives is non-empty. Hypothetical imperatives include instrumental rules, you have to use X to achieve Y, game-laying rules, etc.

Right, those are examples where non-ethical hypothetical imperatives often show up.

So how does this add up to a reason to think there is a case against categorical imperatives that doesn't equally well count against hypothetical imperatives?