There’s a distinction to be made between altruism (ethical theory) and altruism (social science). The sense of altruism you use seems more to agree with the former. It seems like Eliezer prefers the latter. To summarize:
Altruism (ethical theory) is just like utilitarianism, except that good for oneself is entirely discounted.
Altruism (social sciences) is a ‘selfless concern for others’, in which one helps other people without conscious concern for one’s personal interests (at least some of the time). It does not require that one abandon one’s own interests in the pursuit of helping others all of the time.
Note that the latter is merely descriptive of behavior. Thus Eliezer can say “I behave altruistically” and “I am a utilitarian” (probably not direct quotes) simultaneously without pain of contradiction.
It’s getting to the point where ethicists have to define ‘ethical x’ for all ‘x’ to distinguish it from its use in other fields.
retired urologist,
There’s a distinction to be made between altruism (ethical theory) and altruism (social science). The sense of altruism you use seems more to agree with the former. It seems like Eliezer prefers the latter. To summarize:
Altruism (ethical theory) is just like utilitarianism, except that good for oneself is entirely discounted.
Altruism (social sciences) is a ‘selfless concern for others’, in which one helps other people without conscious concern for one’s personal interests (at least some of the time). It does not require that one abandon one’s own interests in the pursuit of helping others all of the time.
Note that the latter is merely descriptive of behavior. Thus Eliezer can say “I behave altruistically” and “I am a utilitarian” (probably not direct quotes) simultaneously without pain of contradiction.
It’s getting to the point where ethicists have to define ‘ethical x’ for all ‘x’ to distinguish it from its use in other fields.