JoshuaZ comments on Open Thread June 2010, Part 2

[JoshuaZ]

consequentialists are better on average at making the world a better place.

That’s an argument that only appeals to the consequentalist.

[Nisan]

Of course. I am only arguing that consequentialists want to be consequentialists, despite cousin_it’s scenario #6.

[thomblake]

That’s an argument that only appeals to the consequentalist.

I’m not sure that’s true. Forms of deontology will usually have some sort of theory of value that allows for a ‘better world’, though it’s usually tied up with weird metaphysical views that don’t jive well with consequentialism.