Is it worse to know what should be done, and then decide not to do it? Or worse to not know in the first place?
I’m angry; I shouldn’t hit my friend because it’s wrong and will only make the situation worse for me and for everyone else, providing no benefits whatsoever; I hit my friend. I have committed malice aforethought. I’m sociopathic. I have no concern for the wellbeing of others.
I’m angry; I hit my friend. Oops. Sorry.
The former case is a half-step in the right direction (“I didn’t hit my friend”), in that I’m capable of identifying the correct action to take. However, it may produce a greater emotional burden should I then fail to take the correct action. In this way, perhaps those who fail to make a full transition are hurting more than those who have not even started on the path.
I remember this being discussed earlier, where aspiring rationalists lose the support of some irrational beliefs which had been propping them up, providing quality of life benefits.
Is it worse to know what should be done, and then decide not to do it? Or worse to not know in the first place?
I’m angry; I shouldn’t hit my friend because it’s wrong and will only make the situation worse for me and for everyone else, providing no benefits whatsoever; I hit my friend. I have committed malice aforethought. I’m sociopathic. I have no concern for the wellbeing of others.
I’m angry; I hit my friend. Oops. Sorry.
The former case is a half-step in the right direction (“I didn’t hit my friend”), in that I’m capable of identifying the correct action to take. However, it may produce a greater emotional burden should I then fail to take the correct action. In this way, perhaps those who fail to make a full transition are hurting more than those who have not even started on the path.
I remember this being discussed earlier, where aspiring rationalists lose the support of some irrational beliefs which had been propping them up, providing quality of life benefits.