“Making existential choices on such a basis is always a bad idea. What is needed is better information” Regardless of the choice you make, the choice is being made with weak data. Although strong data is the ideal, going with a choice weak data suggests against is worse than going with the choice it favors. Of course, if there is a way to get better information, we should do that first if we have time.
”Would you commit suicide if you thought that it was 60% likely that your life would be of negative value?” Not necessarily. However, if I exhausted all potential better alternatives like investigating further, then in principle yes as I’m a utilitarian. That said, this question has a false premise; I control the impacts of my life, and can make them positive. Not so with civilization.
That said, this question has a false premise; I control the impacts of my life, and can make them positive.
I agree (although there’s plenty on LessWrong and elsewhere who wouldn’t).
Not so with civilization.
Civilisation changes according to the choices of all of us, some of them big, most of them small. Do you decline to take part in any cooperative effort when your own part is a small one?
“Making existential choices on such a basis is always a bad idea. What is needed is better information” Regardless of the choice you make, the choice is being made with weak data. Although strong data is the ideal, going with a choice weak data suggests against is worse than going with the choice it favors. Of course, if there is a way to get better information, we should do that first if we have time.
”Would you commit suicide if you thought that it was 60% likely that your life would be of negative value?” Not necessarily. However, if I exhausted all potential better alternatives like investigating further, then in principle yes as I’m a utilitarian. That said, this question has a false premise; I control the impacts of my life, and can make them positive. Not so with civilization.
I agree (although there’s plenty on LessWrong and elsewhere who wouldn’t).
Civilisation changes according to the choices of all of us, some of them big, most of them small. Do you decline to take part in any cooperative effort when your own part is a small one?