Nick_Tarleton comments on My main problem with utilitarianism - Less Wrong

-2 Post author: taw 17 April 2009 08:26PM

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Comment author: Nick_Tarleton 17 April 2009 11:21:33PM *  1 point [-]

the "utility" of "utilitarianism" might need more complexity than the "utility" of economics

My rough impression is that "utilitarianism" is generally taken to mean either hedonistic or preference utilitarianism, but nothing else, and that we should be saying "consequentialism".

CEV might help here, but I do need to think about it more.

I think the "big computation" perspective in The Meaning of Right is sufficient.

Or if you're just looking for a term to use instead of "utility" or "happiness", how about "goodness" or "the good"? (Edit: "value", as steven suggests, is better.)

Comment author: steven0461 17 April 2009 11:25:42PM 0 points [-]

My rough impression is that "utilitarianism" is generally taken to mean either hedonistic or preference utilitarianism, but nothing else, and that we should be saying "consequentialism".

My impression is that it doesn't need to be pleasure or preference satisfaction; it can be anything that could be seen as "quality of life" or having one's true "interests" satisfied.

Or if you're just looking for a term to replace "utility", how about "goodness" or "the good"?

Or "value".

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