bryjnar comments on Confusion about Normative Morality - Less Wrong

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

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Comment author: bryjnar 08 February 2013 04:18:09AM 1 point [-]

That's pretty weird, considering that so-called "sophisticated" consequentialist theories (where you can say something like: although in this instance it would be better for me to do X than Y, overall it would be better to have a disposition to do Y than X, so I shall have such a disposition) have been a huge area of discussion recently. And yes, it's bloody obvious and it's a scandal it took so long for these kinds of ideas to get into contemporary philosophy.

Perhaps the prof meant that such a consequentialist account appears to tell you to follow certain "deontological" requirements, but for the wrong reason in some way. In much the same way that the existence of a vengeful God might make acting morally also selfishly rational, but if you acted morally out of self-interest then you would be doing it for the wrong reasons, and wouldn't have actually got to the heart of things.

Alternatively, they're just useless. Philosophy has a pretty high rate of that, but don't throw out the baby with the bathwater! ;)

Comment author: JMiller 08 February 2013 04:06:13PM 0 points [-]

Yeah, we read Railton's sophisticated consequentialism, which sounded pretty good. Norcross on why consequentialism is about offering suggestions and not requirements was also not too bad. I feel like the texts I am reading are more valuable than the classes, to be frank. Thanks for the input!

Comment author: BerryPick6 08 February 2013 04:17:12PM 1 point [-]

To answer a question you gave in the OP, Jackson's views are very close to what Eliezer's metaethics seem to be, and Railton has some similarities with Luke's views.

Comment author: JMiller 08 February 2013 04:31:41PM 1 point [-]

Hmmm that's right! I can't believe I didn't see that, thanks. I think Railton is more similar to Luke then Jackson is to Eliezer though, if I understand Eliezer well enough. Is there a comparison anywhere outlining the differences between what Eliezer and Luke think across different fields?

Comment author: [deleted] 09 February 2013 07:32:19PM 0 points [-]

You should try some Brad Hooker. One of the most defensible versions of consequentialism out there.

Comment author: JMiller 09 February 2013 07:42:00PM 0 points [-]

Cool, I will check him out. Thanks.