Eliezer isn’t (as I understand him) saying that he’s trying to save the world so that he doesn’t feel horrible. He’s saying that, as it happens, he feels that if he didn’t try to save the world then he would be horrible. This (1) isn’t a statement about his motivations and (2) is about (hypothetically) being horrible, not about feeling horrible.
Eliezer isn’t (as I understand him) saying that he’s trying to save the world so that he doesn’t feel horrible. He’s saying that, as it happens, he feels that if he didn’t try to save the world then he would be horrible. This (1) isn’t a statement about his motivations and (2) is about (hypothetically) being horrible, not about feeling horrible.
Who cares why?
You are right, and I’m glad you replied because it sparked me to remember the OTHER thing I wanted to say, which I posted as a fresh comment.