The first forbidden transition would be the very first one, of course—it would be a heck of a coincidence to get the first few steps right but not know what you’re doing.
This is just guessing, but it seems like “more altruism” is the sort of thing one thinks one should say, while not actually being specific enough to preserve your values. This goes to leplen’s point: there isn’t any single direction of improvement called “more altruism.”
Asking for more altruism via some specific, well-understood mechanism might at least illuminate the flaws.
Very good point that I think clarified this for me.
Per Wikipedia, “Altruism or selflessness is the principle or practice of concern for the welfare of others.” That seems like a plausible definition, and I think it illustrates what’s wrong with this whole chain. The issue here is not increasing concern or practice but expanding the definition of “others”; that is, bringing more people/animals/objects into the realm of concern. So if we taboo altruism, the question becomes to whom/what and to what degree should we practice concern. Furthermore, on what grounds should we do this?
For instance, if the real principle is to increase pleasure and avoid pain, then we should have concern for humans and higher animals, but not care about viruses, plants, or rocks. (I’m not saying that’s the right fundamental principle; just an example that makes it clearer where to draw the line.)
In other words, altruism is not a good in itself. It needs a grounding in something else. If the grounding principle were something like “Increase the status and success of my tribe”, then altruistic behavior could be very negative for other tribes.
The first forbidden transition would be the very first one, of course—it would be a heck of a coincidence to get the first few steps right but not know what you’re doing.
This is just guessing, but it seems like “more altruism” is the sort of thing one thinks one should say, while not actually being specific enough to preserve your values. This goes to leplen’s point: there isn’t any single direction of improvement called “more altruism.”
Asking for more altruism via some specific, well-understood mechanism might at least illuminate the flaws.
The general rule could be: Don’t let your applause lights generalize automatically.
Just because “altruism” is an applause light, it does not mean we should optimize the universe to be altruistic towards rocks.
The last forbidden transition would be the very last one, since it’s outright wrong while the previous ones do seem to have reasons behind them.
Very good point that I think clarified this for me.
Per Wikipedia, “Altruism or selflessness is the principle or practice of concern for the welfare of others.” That seems like a plausible definition, and I think it illustrates what’s wrong with this whole chain. The issue here is not increasing concern or practice but expanding the definition of “others”; that is, bringing more people/animals/objects into the realm of concern. So if we taboo altruism, the question becomes to whom/what and to what degree should we practice concern. Furthermore, on what grounds should we do this?
For instance, if the real principle is to increase pleasure and avoid pain, then we should have concern for humans and higher animals, but not care about viruses, plants, or rocks. (I’m not saying that’s the right fundamental principle; just an example that makes it clearer where to draw the line.)
In other words, altruism is not a good in itself. It needs a grounding in something else. If the grounding principle were something like “Increase the status and success of my tribe”, then altruistic behavior could be very negative for other tribes.