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pianoforte611 comments on Value ethics vs. agency ethics - Less Wrong Discussion
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I'm more troubled by utilitarianism prescriptions about the real world rather than extreme hypotheticals.
Under utilitarianism it is the highest moral good for everyone to try to satisfy everyone else's preference equally - because the most moral action is the one that maximizes global utility. In other words, one should value one's own life no more than a random child in the middle of Botswana. In order to act consistent with this value system, it would be necessary to devote virtually all of your time to helping other people. No entertainment or free time or luxury allowed except the minimum amount necessary to keep you productive enough to help other people. This is the utilitarian ideal.
One of my professors once gave a lecture on how utilitarianism was originally intended to be an ethical theory specifically for government. I haven't done enough reading to be able to argue either for or against this, but it makes sense -- avoids this failure mode and feels like it fits with the "if not divine right, then what?" philosophical upheaval.