Ben_Jones comments on Circular Altruism - Less Wrong

40 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 22 January 2008 06:00PM

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Comment author: Ben_Jones 23 January 2008 12:28:16PM 6 points [-]

ultimately having no one drive at all would save the most lives

And ultimately no dust specks and no torture and lollipops all round would be great for everyone. Stick to the deal as presented. You have a choice to make. Speed is quantifiable. Death is very quantifiable. Pain - even physical pain - goes in the same category as love, sadness, confusion. They are abstract nouns because you cannot hold, measure or count them. Does N losing lottery tickets spread equally over N people equal one dead relative's worth of grief?

Reconsider my poll scenario: Wouldn't the opinions of 3^^^3 people, all willing to bear the brunt of a dust speck for you, sway your judgment one little bit? Are you that certain of your rationality? You are about to submit yourself to 50 years of torture, and you have 3^^^3 people screaming at you 'don't bother, it's okay, no single person has a problem with just blinking once, even those who would opt for torture in your place!' What do you reply? 'Stop being so damned irrational! Just insert the rods!'