Thomas comments on Jews and Nazis: a version of dust specks vs torture - Less Wrong

16 Post author: shminux 07 September 2012 08:15PM

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Comment author: Thomas 11 September 2012 08:22:33AM -1 points [-]

If I've understood you correctly, you commit to using the wand to healing my legs instead of healing everyone else.

If that's true, I will do my best to keep that wand out of your hands.

So, you would do everything you can, to prevent a small probability, but very bad scenario? Wouldn't you just neglect it?

Comment author: TheOtherDave 11 September 2012 12:55:17PM *  0 points [-]

I would devote an amount of energy to avoiding that scenario that seemed commensurate with its expected value. Indeed, I'm doing so right now (EDIT: actually, on consideration, I'm devoting far more energy to it than it merits). If my estimate of the likelihood of you obtaining such a wand (and, presumably, finding the one person in the world who is suffering incrementally more than anyone else and alleviating his or her suffering with it) increases, the amount of energy I devote to avoiding it might also increase.