Lumifer comments on Altruistic parenting - Less Wrong

1 Post author: Clarity 08 February 2016 11:57AM

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Comment author: Lumifer 09 February 2016 04:07:30PM 1 point [-]

The answers to the last three questions, especially if asked about the first child, are "We don't know".

Comment author: Dagon 09 February 2016 05:12:25PM 0 points [-]

The answers to all of them are probability estimates. "don't know" applies to all decisions, but isn't a helpful framing.

Comment author: Lumifer 09 February 2016 05:15:11PM 0 points [-]

I would like to see a probability estimate for "Will the world be a better place for our having children?", for example, one that's based on some empirical realities and not on looking upwards and going "Hmmm...."

Comment author: Dagon 09 February 2016 10:42:52PM 0 points [-]

The outside view is certainly positive on the overall bundle: most humans choose to have children. Starting with that prior and adjustiing for heritability of IQ and social influence, it seems very likely that children of most LW readers will be net positive value.

It's not what you asked for, but it's sufficient to base decisions on.

Comment author: Lumifer 10 February 2016 01:48:20AM 0 points [-]

The outside view is certainly positive on the overall bundle: most humans choose to have children.

That's just hardwired biological instincts. They have nothing to do with the questions asked.

Comment author: gjm 09 February 2016 05:14:05PM -1 points [-]

The answers to [...] are "We don't know".

Just like the answers to all questions.