I second the comments above. The answer Alicorn and Furcas give sounds really shallow compared to a Framework Of Objective Value; but when I become convinced that there really is no FOOV, I was relieved to find that I still, you know, wanted things, and these included not just self-serving wants, but things like “I want my friends and family to be happy, even in circumstances where I couldn’t share or even know of their happiness”, and “I want the world to become (for example) more rational, less violent, and happier, even if I wouldn’t be around to see it— although if I had the chance, I’d rather be around to see it, of course”.
It doesn’t sound as dramatic or idealistic as a FOOV, but the values and desires encoded in my brain and the brains of others have the virtue of actually existing; and realizing that these values aren’t written on a stone tablet in the heart of the universe doesn’t rob them of their importance to the life I live.
I second the comments above. The answer Alicorn and Furcas give sounds really shallow compared to a Framework Of Objective Value; but when I become convinced that there really is no FOOV, I was relieved to find that I still, you know, wanted things, and these included not just self-serving wants, but things like “I want my friends and family to be happy, even in circumstances where I couldn’t share or even know of their happiness”, and “I want the world to become (for example) more rational, less violent, and happier, even if I wouldn’t be around to see it— although if I had the chance, I’d rather be around to see it, of course”.
It doesn’t sound as dramatic or idealistic as a FOOV, but the values and desires encoded in my brain and the brains of others have the virtue of actually existing; and realizing that these values aren’t written on a stone tablet in the heart of the universe doesn’t rob them of their importance to the life I live.