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thelittledoctor comments on The ethics of breaking belief - Less Wrong Discussion

16 Post author: thelittledoctor 08 May 2012 08:34PM

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Comment author: thelittledoctor 08 May 2012 11:45:01PM 0 points [-]

Even if it were just a matter of telling the truth, I don't think it would be ethically unambiguous. The more general question is whether the value of increasing some person's net-true-beliefs stat outweighs the corresponding decrease in that person's ability-to-fit-comfortably-in-theist-society stat. In other words I am questioning WHETHER they would be better off, not which conditional I should thereafter follow.

Comment author: thomblake 08 May 2012 11:48:32PM 1 point [-]

Yes, if all you care about is whether they would be better off, then it's merely an empirical question.

Normally that's the end of the conversation for a philosopher, but I shall go on. Based on nothing, I'd say they'd be better off. They should just find a new atheist society. With blackjack and hookers.

Comment author: thelittledoctor 08 May 2012 11:59:29PM 0 points [-]

Not quite the advice I was hoping for, but thank you for your honesty.