Matt_Simpson comments on The Meaning of Right - Less Wrong

30 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 29 July 2008 01:28AM

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Comment author: Matt_Simpson 29 July 2008 11:58:00PM 0 points [-]

Silas: I'm referring to all thought experiments where the intended purpose was to show that utilitarianism is inconsistent with our moral intuitions. So, yes, the examples you mention, and more. Most of them do fall short of their purpose.

Nick Tarleton: I'm not sure all seemingly anti-utilitarian intuitions can be explained away by scope insensitivity, but that does take care of the vast majority of cases.

One case I was thinking of (for both of you) is the 'utility monster:' someone who receives such glee from killing, maiming, and otherwise causing havoc that the pain others endure due to him is virtually always outweighed by the happiness the monster receives.

Another case would be the difference between killing a terrorist who has 10 people hostage and murdering an innocent man to save 10 people. I would think that in general, people would be willing to do the first while hesitant to do the second, though I defer to anyone who knows the empirical literature.