PhilGoetz comments on Rationality test: Vote for trump - Less Wrong

-18 Post author: pwno 16 June 2016 08:33AM

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Comment author: PhilGoetz 30 June 2016 12:23:26AM *  0 points [-]

What you're really doing by saying "My utility function might value my self-perception as a person who votes for X" is phrasing virtue ethics as utilitarianism. That's a move which confuses rather than clarifies. If you value your self-perception as a person who votes for X, you aren't a consequentialist; you believe in virtue ethics.

Can you say it? Yes; you can in theory be a virtue utilitarian. But no real-life virtue ethicists are utilitarians. Hence, confusion.

Comment author: Lumifer 30 June 2016 04:08:33AM 0 points [-]

Why would valuing a particular aspect of my self-perception be virtue ethics? I'm not saying I'm becaming morally better, only that it provides more warm glow, that is, just feels more pleasant.