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Alejandro1 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: Nisan 08 May 2012 09:41:07PM 10 points [-]

Some ethically relevant questions you could ask yourself:

  • If you deconvert your friend, do you predict they'll thank you for it afterward or express regret at losing their faith?

  • Would you approve of your more adept friends pushing analogous levers in your own head? (For example, I welcome people to cause me to doubt my preconceptions, but I don't want people to use my fears to manipulate me.)

Comment author: Alejandro1 09 May 2012 12:21:30AM 4 points [-]

I don't see the first question as particularly relevant. Suppose the prediction is that after deconverting they will be grateful, what would that prove? (Cf. the Gandhi murder pill example: Killer!Gandhi is happy that he took the pill.)

The second question is a better one, and I like the distinction you make for your case. Generalizing, I'd say it is ok for thelittledoctor to give rational arguments against their friends' beliefs (as long as he or she does not do it in a pushy, obnoxious way, but when the topic arises naturally) but not to use "Dark Artish-levers".