Sewing-Machine comments on Stupid Questions Thread - January 2014 - Less Wrong

10 Post author: RomeoStevens 13 January 2014 02:31AM

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Comment author: solipsist 13 January 2014 04:17:12AM 7 points [-]

A hermit, long forgotten by the rest of the world, lives a middling life all alone on a desert island. Eve kills the hermit secretly and painlessly, sell his organs, and uses the money to change the mind of a couple who had decided against having additional children. The couple's child leads a life far longer and happier than the forgotten Hermit's ever would have been.

Eve has increased QALYs, average happiness, and total happiness. Has Eve done a good thing? If not, why not?

Comment author: [deleted] 13 January 2014 03:08:21PM 3 points [-]

If there are a large number of "yes" replies, the hermit lfestyle becomes very unappealing.