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.

PhilGoetz comments on Rationality test: Vote for trump - Less Wrong Discussion

-18 Post author: pwno 16 June 2016 08:33AM

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

Comments (60)

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

Comment author: PhilGoetz 30 June 2016 12:23:26AM *  0 points [-]

What you're really doing by saying "My utility function might value my self-perception as a person who votes for X" is phrasing virtue ethics as utilitarianism. That's a move which confuses rather than clarifies. If you value your self-perception as a person who votes for X, you aren't a consequentialist; you believe in virtue ethics.

Can you say it? Yes; you can in theory be a virtue utilitarian. But no real-life virtue ethicists are utilitarians. Hence, confusion.

Comment author: Lumifer 30 June 2016 04:08:33AM 0 points [-]

Why would valuing a particular aspect of my self-perception be virtue ethics? I'm not saying I'm becaming morally better, only that it provides more warm glow, that is, just feels more pleasant.