Multiheaded comments on Review: Selfish Reasons to Have More Kids - Less Wrong

17 Post author: jsalvatier 29 May 2012 06:00PM

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Comment author: Multiheaded 01 June 2012 09:23:30AM 0 points [-]

So you've no reinforcing reasons to give up your own fleeting well-being for anyone else's sake, especially that of far people? Well, at least that's honest. But I still want to aim for more than temporary gratification when deciding what to do - partly because I still feel very irresponsible and worried when trying not to care about what I see in society.

Comment author: [deleted] 01 June 2012 09:34:38AM *  3 points [-]

So you've no reinforcing reasons to give up your own fleeting well-being for anyone else's sake, especially that of far people?

The set of minds I care about obviously includes my own but isn't limited to it!

Comment author: Multiheaded 01 June 2012 09:56:08AM *  0 points [-]

Sure, of course you care. I meant, well, I'll think of how to explain it. But basically I'm talking about quasi-religious values again. I have this nagging feeling that we're hugely missing out on both satisfaction and morality for not understanding their true use.

Comment author: [deleted] 01 June 2012 10:01:01AM *  2 points [-]

Ok I hope you can write it out because it sounds interesting. But let me pose a query of my own.

You seem to think that over a period a few billion years means that real utility optimization should occur rather than going for wire-heading. And think that if limited to a few centuries counterfeit utility is better. How would you feel about 10 000 years of the values you cherish followed by a alien or empty universe? What about 10 million years?

If it makes you feel better if everything I cared was destined to disappear tomorrow I think I would go for some wire-heading, so I guess we are just on different spots on the same curve. Is this so?

Comment author: Multiheaded 01 June 2012 10:08:07AM 0 points [-]

I'm thinking. But keep in mind that I'm basically a would-be deontologist; I'm just not sure what my deontic ethics should be. If only I could get a consistent (?) and satisfying system, I'd be fine with missing out on direct utility. I know, for humans that's as impossible as becoming an utility maximizer, because we're the antithesis of "consistency".