A friend comes to you and says “I really like marijuana but recognize that my using it harms people because of the nasty drug trade. I am considering either (1) not using marijuana, or (2) using marijuana but giving $50,000 a year more than I normally would to charity. I will give to GiveWell’s top charity. The second option would give me a happier life. I trust your judgement. Which of these two options is morally better? ”
Uh? The proper analogy is that your friend says “I’m considering working at a minimum wage blue collar job and not donating anything or working as a drug gangster and giving $50,000 a year to GiveWell’s top charity. The second option would give me a happier life. I trust your judgement. Which of these two options is morally better? ”
Alright, I pick the drug gangster path, taking into account the fact that his being a drug gangster probably displaces someone else from selling to his customers and so the marginal harm of this career choice isn’t all that high.
A friend comes to you and says “I really like marijuana but recognize that my using it harms people because of the nasty drug trade. I am considering either (1) not using marijuana, or (2) using marijuana but giving $50,000 a year more than I normally would to charity. I will give to GiveWell’s top charity. The second option would give me a happier life. I trust your judgement. Which of these two options is morally better? ”
Uh? The proper analogy is that your friend says “I’m considering working at a minimum wage blue collar job and not donating anything or working as a drug gangster and giving $50,000 a year to GiveWell’s top charity. The second option would give me a happier life. I trust your judgement. Which of these two options is morally better? ”
Alright, I pick the drug gangster path, taking into account the fact that his being a drug gangster probably displaces someone else from selling to his customers and so the marginal harm of this career choice isn’t all that high.
Ok, we clearly have irreconcilably different values.