LauralH comments on Confusion about Normative Morality - Less Wrong

9 Post author: JMiller 07 February 2013 08:34PM

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Comment author: LauralH 08 February 2013 02:23:42AM *  1 point [-]

So the professor was playing Devil's Advocate, in other words? I'm not familiar with the "requirements" argument he's trying, but like a lot of people here, that's because I think philosophy classes tend to be a waste of time. For primarily the reasons you list in the first paragraph. I'm a consequentialist, myself.

Do you actually think you're having problems with understanding the Sequences, or just in comparing them with your Ethics classes?

Comment author: JMiller 08 February 2013 04:11:06PM 1 point [-]

It isn't that I don't understand the sequences on their own. It's more that I don't see a) how they relate to the "mainstream" (though I read Luke's post on the various connections, morality seems to be sparse on the list, or I missed it). And b) what Eliezer in particular is trying to get across. The topics in the sequence are very widespread and don't seem to be narrowing in on a particular idea. I found a humans guide to words many times more useful. Luke's sequence was easier, but then there is a lot less material.

I think he was playing devil's advocate. Thanks for the comment.

Comment author: LauralH 11 February 2013 11:37:12PM 0 points [-]

I think EY's central point is something like: just because there's no built-in morality for the universe, doesn't mean there isn't built-in morality for humans. At the same time, that "moral sense" does need care and feeding, otherwise you get slavery - and thinking spanking your kids is right.

(But it's been a while since I've read the entire ME series, so I could have confused it with something else I've read.)