wedrifid comments on Cryonics on Castle [Spoilers] - Less Wrong

25 Post author: wedrifid 04 October 2011 09:46AM

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Comment author: wedrifid 07 October 2011 05:32:31AM 3 points [-]

Really? If I assume that you're operating solely to maximize number of years lived (which I think you are) doesn't this imply that you think that the corpsicle has a higher probability of living forever than Beckett does?

Yes it would but no I'm not. I never optimize for maximising the number of lives lived. Especially not in the sense that assumes I must care about everyone equally.

In this case what I was describing is my predicted emotional affect in the counterfactual fictional circumstances in which Beckett dies while attempting headslaughter. I find that much like I don't identify with and care about the suffering of those people who Beckett destroys the lives of via imprisonment or execution I would not identify with and care about the death of Beckett while she was perpetrating a significant ethical transgression. Perhaps more importantly I consider it ethically permissable to defend yourself, your loved ones, the helpless and the innocent from violation, including with deadly force. Where most instances of deadly force perpetrated upon another would provoke empathy for the victim it makes a big difference if the victim was the one instigating the conflict.