You're looking at Less Wrong's discussion board. This includes all posts, including those that haven't been promoted to the front page yet. For more information, see About Less Wrong.

RichardKennaway comments on Social ethics vs decision theory - Less Wrong Discussion

3 Post author: AlexMennen 20 February 2011 04:14AM

You are viewing a comment permalink. View the original post to see all comments and the full post content.

Comments (33)

You are viewing a single comment's thread. Show more comments above.

Comment author: RichardKennaway 20 February 2011 05:38:13PM -1 points [-]

I exist. I am conscious of my own identity. I was born and I shall die. I have arms and legs. I occupy a particular point in space. No other solid object can occupy the same point simultaneously.

Is it in that sense, that you are pretty sure that utilitarians exist?

Comment author: Perplexed 20 February 2011 06:03:45PM *  1 point [-]

I'm pretty sure that there are people who sincerely claim to be utilitarians in the sense that they try to use that ethical doctrine to guide their actions. Is this really controversial? To anyone besides tim_tyler, that is?

ETA: I recognize that I am confused. Can anyone point out what I am missing here?

Comment author: RichardKennaway 21 February 2011 12:28:39AM *  0 points [-]

I thought you might be suggesting that no-one is actually a utilitarian, although they might believe they are.

Comment author: Perplexed 21 February 2011 01:50:40AM 1 point [-]

When I said I had never met a utilitarian, I meant, literally, that I have never even met someone who claimed to be a utilitarian. When I said that I am sure that there are sincere utilitarians who try their best to use the doctrine to guide their actions, I meant exactly that.

As far as I am concerned, someone who tries to be a utilitarian really is a utilitarian.

Comment author: wedrifid 20 February 2011 05:54:02PM 0 points [-]

No other solid object can occupy the same point simultaneously.

(With overwhelmingly high probability.)