Lumifer comments on Stranger Than History - Less Wrong
You are viewing a comment permalink. View the original post to see all comments and the full post content.
You are viewing a comment permalink. View the original post to see all comments and the full post content.
Comments (329)
Which also applies to things like smoking and starting a war with your neighbours. Are you really arguing that everything people do in noticeable numbers increases social welfare?
"To a first approximation."
We know the negative externalities of the examples you mention.
You're making the argument "people doing X is evidence for X increasing social welfare". I don't think this argument works, first approximation or not.