dclayh comments on Survey Results - Less Wrong

48 Post author: Yvain 12 May 2009 10:09PM

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Comment author: dclayh 14 May 2009 11:25:26PM 3 points [-]

I wish someone would do a post on metawants. Personally I view them with deep suspicion.

Comment author: Alicorn 14 May 2009 11:52:12PM 1 point [-]

What about metawants (a.k.a. second-order desire) do you want to see a post on?

Comment author: dclayh 15 May 2009 12:06:12AM 1 point [-]

Well, their ontological, epistemological, and ethical statuses, for three. Specifically, how it's possible to want X and simultaneously want to not want X (while remaining more or less sane/rational). Whether metawants have any special status when making utilitarian ethical calculations. That sort of thing. Even the history of thought on the subject (e.g. Buddhism, where the stated (and only?) metawant is to eliminate all first-order wants).

Comment author: Alicorn 15 May 2009 12:34:15AM 1 point [-]

I'll see what I can do. There was a fair bit about second-order desire in my self-knowledge class and if people would be interested in a distillation/summary of it, I'll provide.