We are trying to be ‘less wrong’ because human brains are so far from ideal at epistemology and at instrumental rationality (‘agency’). But it’s a standard LW perspective to assert that there is a territory, and some maps of (parts of) it are right and others are wrong. And since we are humans, it helps to retrain our emotions: “Relinquish the emotion which rests upon a mistaken belief, and seek to feel fully that emotion which fits the facts.”
And since we are humans, it helps to retrain our emotions: “Relinquish the emotion which rests upon a mistaken belief, and seek to feel fully that emotion which fits the facts.”
I’d rather call this “self-help” than “meta-ethics.” Why self-help? Because...
But it’s a standard LW perspective to assert that there is a territory, and some maps of (parts of) it are right and others are wrong.
...even if my emotions are “wrong,” why should I care? In this case, the answer can only be that it will help me derive more satisfaction out of life if I get it “right”, which seems to fall squarely under the purview of self-help.
Of course we can draw the lines between meta-ethics and self-help in various ways, but there is so much baggage in the label “ethics” that I’d prefer to get away from it as soon as possible.
We are trying to be ‘less wrong’ because human brains are so far from ideal at epistemology and at instrumental rationality (‘agency’). But it’s a standard LW perspective to assert that there is a territory, and some maps of (parts of) it are right and others are wrong. And since we are humans, it helps to retrain our emotions: “Relinquish the emotion which rests upon a mistaken belief, and seek to feel fully that emotion which fits the facts.”
I’d rather call this “self-help” than “meta-ethics.” Why self-help? Because...
...even if my emotions are “wrong,” why should I care? In this case, the answer can only be that it will help me derive more satisfaction out of life if I get it “right”, which seems to fall squarely under the purview of self-help.
Of course we can draw the lines between meta-ethics and self-help in various ways, but there is so much baggage in the label “ethics” that I’d prefer to get away from it as soon as possible.