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

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

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Comment author: kaz 19 August 2011 01:06:55AM *  5 points [-]

and yes, as soon as ends justify means, you do get Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, who were all striving for good consequences......

As soon as? That's a very strong statement.

I don't think utilitarianism suggests that "the ends justify the means" in the way that you are claiming - a more utilitarian view would be "all of the effects of the means justify the means" i.e. side effects are relevant.