novalis comments on Humans are utility monsters - Less Wrong

67 Post author: PhilGoetz 16 August 2013 09:05PM

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Comment author: novalis 17 August 2013 12:49:34AM 14 points [-]

why should I care?

Isn't this an objection to any theory of ethics?

Comment author: metastable 17 August 2013 01:04:17AM 3 points [-]

As a lone question, it could be, but the point of his post is that even stipulating utilitarianism it does not follow that you or I should maximize the utils of Mr. Utility Monster.

Comment author: SaidAchmiz 17 August 2013 01:10:44AM 1 point [-]

No, only theories of ethics that say that I should care about things that I do not already care about.

And it is, in case, not an objection but a question. :)

Comment author: Juno_Watt 18 August 2013 11:53:15PM 0 points [-]

Not necesarily a fatal one.

Comment author: MugaSofer 18 August 2013 10:55:53PM -1 points [-]

I believe some famous philosopher already has this point named after him.