Multiheaded comments on Ethics Notes - Less Wrong

12 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 21 October 2008 09:57PM

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Comment author: Multiheaded 01 January 2012 12:17:33AM 1 point [-]

But do you want the Soviet Union to have a written, explicit policy that says... "Anyone who ignores orders in a nuclear war scenario, who is later vindicated by events, will be rewarded and promoted"?

I don't see the catch, by the way. Could someone please explain? Unless "vindicated by events" includes "USSR having dominion over a blasted wasteland", this sounds good.

Comment author: Jubilee 06 April 2013 12:14:33PM 1 point [-]

Because if you're considering disobeying orders, it is presumably because you think you WILL be vindicated by events (regardless of the actual likelihood of that transpiring). Therefore, punishing only people who turn out to be wrong fails to sufficiently discourage anybody who actually should be discouraged :P

Comment author: elharo 06 April 2013 12:51:43PM 2 points [-]

Very few people disobey orders because they think they will be vindicated by events. It is far more common for people to disobey orders for purposes of personal gain or out of laziness, fear, or other considerations. The person, especially the soldier, who disobeys a direct order from recognized authority on either moral or tactical grounds is an uncommon scenario.

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