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Viliam_Bur comments on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 16, chapter 85 - Less Wrong Discussion

9 Post author: FAWS 18 April 2012 02:30AM

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Comment author: ArisKatsaris 19 April 2012 08:38:30AM 4 points [-]

In ch.79 Dumbledore mentions the human sacrifice has to be "committed in coldest blood, the victim dying in horror"

Comment author: Viliam_Bur 19 April 2012 01:51:01PM *  6 points [-]

How about some kind of Russian roulette -- two people get wands, one is magical, one is not, they are supposed to cast some paralysis spell and then Avada Kedavra on each other. The paralysis spell gives the victim enough time to realize they have lost, and thus to die in horror.

Yet, if average(years gained) is more than average(years lost), the transaction is good from utilitarian viewpoint. Especially if both parties are volunteers. I don't know whether this qualifies as "cold-blooded murder", though -- I would need more precise definition.

Comment author: chaosmosis 19 April 2012 02:49:15PM *  8 points [-]

Yeah. Alternatively Harry could seize power and then force gladiators to murder each other and have perform Dark Rituals to create a Horcrux after the killings, that would probably be evil enough. Also, this would be a better sport than Quidditch, so it's win-win.