Psy-Kosh: Hrm. I’d think “avoid destroying the world” itself to be an ethical injunction too.
The problem is that this is phrased as an injunction over positive consequences. Deontology does better when it’s closer to the action level and negative rather than positive.
Imagine trying to give this injunction to an AI. Then it would have to do anything that it thought would prevent the destruction of the world, without other considerations. Doesn’t sound like a good idea.
No more so, I think, than “don’t murder”, “don’t steal”, “don’t lie”, “don’t let children drown” etc.
Of course, having this ethical injunction—one which compels you to positive action to defend the world—would, if publicly known, rather interfere with the Confessor’s job.
No more so, I think, than “don’t murder”, “don’t steal”, “don’t lie”, “don’t let children drown” etc.
Of course, having this ethical injunction—one which compels you to positive action to defend the world—would, if publicly known, rather interfere with the Confessor’s job.