Polymeron comments on The "Intuitions" Behind "Utilitarianism" - Less Wrong

29 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 28 January 2008 04:29PM

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Comment author: Polymeron 04 May 2011 05:16:31PM 0 points [-]

Moral systems (at least, consistent ones with social consequences) deal in intentions, not actions per se. This is why, for instance, we find a difference between a bank teller giving away bank money to a robber at gun point, and a bank teller giving away money in order to get back at their employer. Same action, but the intent in question is different. A moral system interested only in actions would be indifferent to this distinction.

Asking for a preference between two different states of affairs where uncertainty, ignorance and impotence are removed allows for an easy isolation of the intention component.

Does this answer your question?