Why does it matter how long they get to experience the self-satisfaction after the action was performed?
Generally speaking I’d say utility is somewhat weighted by duration. I’d be suspicious of a utility function that says that one year of atrocious pain is as bad as one minute, for example.
Other than that, sure, I think it’s fair to say it’s selfish in that very broad sense. I guess my point is that I want to remark that it’s something that is ill-captured intuitively by terms like “self-interest”. To me interest implies some kind of objective direct benefit to my utility, as opposed to a more general goal/want that only implies my aim for something regardless of the reason for it. I’m not sure what a good term for this sort of want-for-want’s sake would be, to distinguish it for the more straightforward wanting something because it brings me pleasure, enjoyment, safety etc.
Generally speaking I’d say utility is somewhat weighted by duration. I’d be suspicious of a utility function that says that one year of atrocious pain is as bad as one minute, for example.
Other than that, sure, I think it’s fair to say it’s selfish in that very broad sense. I guess my point is that I want to remark that it’s something that is ill-captured intuitively by terms like “self-interest”. To me interest implies some kind of objective direct benefit to my utility, as opposed to a more general goal/want that only implies my aim for something regardless of the reason for it. I’m not sure what a good term for this sort of want-for-want’s sake would be, to distinguish it for the more straightforward wanting something because it brings me pleasure, enjoyment, safety etc.