Gunnar_Zarncke comments on Preferences without Existence - Less Wrong

14 Post author: Coscott 08 February 2014 01:34AM

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Comment author: Gunnar_Zarncke 08 February 2014 04:16:53AM 0 points [-]

No. Because you explored the extremes of empathy toward beings.

You don't follow a path going from less to more extreme as I outlined but an extreme in different aspects you explore nonetheless.

Comment author: Coscott 08 February 2014 04:30:04AM 2 points [-]

Oh, ok, I get the connection now, thanks.

My main point was not that I care about non-existing things in any way that conflicts with cares about existing things. My point was that believing in the concept of existence is not necessary for having preferences. I suppose I would agree with

A: Hmm, I guess I want [happiness of non-existing agents] too. However, that is negligible compared to my preferences about things that really do exist.

If not for the fact that I don't think existence has any meaning.