Astazha comments on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, March 2015, chapter 116 - Less Wrong

4 Post author: Gondolinian 04 March 2015 08:11PM

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Comment author: Vaniver 05 March 2015 06:28:24PM *  7 points [-]

Remember that if Tom Riddle dies, a potentially vengeful demon with significant magical power is unleashed. Preventing that from happening is worth doing for the sake of those common people, regardless of its impact on Tom Riddle.

Comment author: Astazha 07 March 2015 11:31:53AM 2 points [-]

Yeah, and that make sense. There's also that he may be one of the last remaining repositories for lost knowledge.

But we've seen internal monologue from Harry where he thinks about the intrinsic value of Voldemort's life and the values of the children's children's children and so on. It's incredibly naive. Voldemort is an immortal psychopath who is ridiculously overpowered and very difficult to contain. Taking that guy out is entirely in sync with valuing life in general. I'm not a fan of the death penalty, but his mere existence is threatening enough that I would make an exception with no hesitation and not feel bad about it ever.

Comment author: Vaniver 07 March 2015 02:35:31PM 3 points [-]

It's incredibly naive.

I didn't like it either, but:

Taking that guy out is entirely in sync with valuing life in general. I'm not a fan of the death penalty, but his mere existence is threatening enough that I would make an exception with no hesitation and not feel bad about it ever.

Harry has taken him out, in the most effective way possible. The existence of the Horcrux network means that the death penalty is not an effective punishment or removal method.

Comment author: Izeinwinter 07 March 2015 04:21:45PM 0 points [-]

No, but moderating the memory charm is foolishness. He isn't even remotely proficient with that charm. He should either have gotten expert help, or gone for a total wipe.

Comment author: Vaniver 07 March 2015 04:28:08PM 3 points [-]

No, but moderating the memory charm is foolishness.

I think I would have just transfigured him into the jewel without doing the memory charm until much later, but on reflection I think that given Harry's uncertainty about how V's mind transfer system works, doing a substandard memory charm now is better than not doing one at all.