I think one’s limited resources (time, money, etc) are a relevant question in one’s behavior, but a “goodness budget” is not relevant at all.
For example: In a world where you could pay $50 to the electric company to convert all your electricity to renewables, or pay $50 more to switch from factory to pasture-raised beef, then if someone asks “hey, your household electrical bill is destroying the environment, why didn’t you choose the green option”, a relevant reply is “because I already spent my $50 on cow suffering”.
However, if both options cost $0, then “but I already switched to pasture-raised beef” is just irrelevant in its entirety.
One distinction I see getting elided here:
I think one’s limited resources (time, money, etc) are a relevant question in one’s behavior, but a “goodness budget” is not relevant at all.
For example: In a world where you could pay $50 to the electric company to convert all your electricity to renewables, or pay $50 more to switch from factory to pasture-raised beef, then if someone asks “hey, your household electrical bill is destroying the environment, why didn’t you choose the green option”, a relevant reply is “because I already spent my $50 on cow suffering”.
However, if both options cost $0, then “but I already switched to pasture-raised beef” is just irrelevant in its entirety.