I want the result of me having existed, as compared to an alternative universe where I did not exist, to be...
This seems like an arbitrary distinction. The value relevant to your ongoing decisions is in opportunity cost of the decisions (and you know that). Why take the popular sentiment seriously, or even merely indulge yourself in it, when it’s known to be wrong?
It is indeed wrong, but it seems to mostly produce the same recommendations as framing the issue in terms of opportunity costs while being more motivating. “Shifting to vegetarianism has a high expected suffering reduction” doesn’t compel action in nearly the same way as “I’m currently racking up a suffering debt every day of my life” does.
This seems like an arbitrary distinction. The value relevant to your ongoing decisions is in opportunity cost of the decisions (and you know that). Why take the popular sentiment seriously, or even merely indulge yourself in it, when it’s known to be wrong?
It is indeed wrong, but it seems to mostly produce the same recommendations as framing the issue in terms of opportunity costs while being more motivating. “Shifting to vegetarianism has a high expected suffering reduction” doesn’t compel action in nearly the same way as “I’m currently racking up a suffering debt every day of my life” does.