Assuming that in addition to the existence of a Yudkowsky Demon able to direct one speck of dust into a Yudkowsky number (3^^^3) of future eyeballs, there is also a Yudkowsky Angel, able to deflect one speck of dust from each of a Yudkowsky number of future eyeballs.
If we find the prospect of a Yudkowsky Demon so intimidating that we are willing to pay the price of torturing a man for 50 years, or even 50^50 men for 50 years each, to avoid the dust, shouldn’t we by the same token choose the deflections of the Angel in lieu of the curing of cancer on this planet tomorrow?
Assuming that in addition to the existence of a Yudkowsky Demon able to direct one speck of dust into a Yudkowsky number (3^^^3) of future eyeballs, there is also a Yudkowsky Angel, able to deflect one speck of dust from each of a Yudkowsky number of future eyeballs.
If we find the prospect of a Yudkowsky Demon so intimidating that we are willing to pay the price of torturing a man for 50 years, or even 50^50 men for 50 years each, to avoid the dust, shouldn’t we by the same token choose the deflections of the Angel in lieu of the curing of cancer on this planet tomorrow?