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.

Ghatanathoah comments on The Mere Cable Channel Addition Paradox - Less Wrong Discussion

64 Post author: Ghatanathoah 26 July 2012 07:20AM

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

Comments (145)

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

Comment author: Ghatanathoah 31 July 2012 06:26:51AM 0 points [-]

Apart from: I wouldn't say that I was maximising others utilty. I'd say I was maximising their happiness, freedom, fulfilment, etc

I think I understand. I tend to use the word "utility" to mean something like "the sum total of everything a person values." Your use is probably more precise, and closer to the original meaning.

I also get very nervous of the idea of maximizing utility because I believe wholeheartedly that value is complex. So if we define utility too narrowly and then try to maximize it we might lose something important. So right now I try to "increase" or "improve" utility rather than maximize it.