Evolutionary ethics similarly provides a clear answer to “what are the criteria for moral patienthood?” — since morality comes into existence via evolution
I basically agree, except I think that “evolution” needs to be replaced by “natural selection” there. Moral intuitions are essentially how we implement game theory, and cultures with better implementations outcompete others. But just because all of moral patients so far have emerged through biological evolution, it would be a grave mistake to conclude that it’s the only way they could ever come into being.
If we happen to create minds smarter than ourselves (by any means), competition with them obviously wouldn’t be outside of realm of possibility, and therefore appropriate attitudes to that will have to be developed, if we’re at all interested in our continued success in that old game of natural selection. Since we already have useful terms like “moral patient” floating around, I don’t see a good reason not to straightforwardly extend them to these novel agents.
I’m unclear what distinction you’re trying to make by suggesting replacing the term “evolution” by “natural selection” — I see them a synonyms (so I’m happy either way), but I gather you don’t?
I basically agree, except I think that “evolution” needs to be replaced by “natural selection” there. Moral intuitions are essentially how we implement game theory, and cultures with better implementations outcompete others. But just because all of moral patients so far have emerged through biological evolution, it would be a grave mistake to conclude that it’s the only way they could ever come into being.
If we happen to create minds smarter than ourselves (by any means), competition with them obviously wouldn’t be outside of realm of possibility, and therefore appropriate attitudes to that will have to be developed, if we’re at all interested in our continued success in that old game of natural selection. Since we already have useful terms like “moral patient” floating around, I don’t see a good reason not to straightforwardly extend them to these novel agents.
I’m unclear what distinction you’re trying to make by suggesting replacing the term “evolution” by “natural selection” — I see them a synonyms (so I’m happy either way), but I gather you don’t?