hen comments on Open Thread, May 26 - June 1, 2014 - Less Wrong

4 Post author: BarbaraB 26 May 2014 07:42AM

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Comment author: [deleted] 28 May 2014 09:36:13PM 0 points [-]

My main gripe with the story was actually the universal (across species) desire to impose one's morality on alien intelligences.

Well, do you think anyone wants to impose their morality on others? If so, why do they want this?

Comment author: shminux 28 May 2014 10:42:45PM 0 points [-]

You are the philosopher, why are you asking me? But we certainly love telling others what they are doing wrong, whether it affects us or not. "Live and let live" attitude is there, but not very popular. And non-existent in 3WC.

Comment author: [deleted] 29 May 2014 12:23:05AM 1 point [-]

Well, if I had to take a guess (at gunpoint, etc.) I suppose I would say that we try to impose our moral beliefs on other people because we think as a matter of fact that those others are already bound by those moral norms. And our imposition just consists in our trying to get them to acknowledge that fact.

But now that I put it that way, I've flipped myself around entirely and I wonder why anyone would wish to 'live and let live'? After all, if I am subject to a given moral norm, I'd certainly want to know about it.

Comment author: shminux 29 May 2014 12:34:20AM 0 points [-]

After all, if I am subject to a given moral norm, I'd certainly want to know about it.

With the caveat "but I already know about it, obviously, it's those savages who do not and need to be shown the light", just like in 3WC. Three repugnant (to me) species in one story, I've only now realized. Of course, it's likely that I'm simply pointing at the log in someone else's eye.

Comment author: blacktrance 29 May 2014 01:06:01AM 1 point [-]

Two repugnant species, I'd say. The Superhappies were right.

Comment author: [deleted] 29 May 2014 02:04:41PM 0 points [-]

Three repugnant (to me) species in one story, I've only now realized.

Hm! This may well be the problem with the story.