You need to show that the value in question is the best way of generating happiness.
You’re absolutely correct. Discovery may not always be the best way of generating happiness; and if it’s not, you should do something else.
And the other point is that values aren’t supposed to do a job.
Not all values are terminal values. Some people value coffee because it wakes them up; they don’t value coffee in itself. If they discover that coffee in fact doesn’t wake them up, they should stop valuing coffee.
With the examples of discovery and creativity, I think it’s obvious that they increase happiness by a lot.
The point is that’s not sufficient.
What is sufficient is demonstrating that if discovery does not promote happiness then it is not valuable. As I explained in my sorting sand example, discovery that does not in any way promote happiness is not worthwhile.
You’re absolutely correct. Discovery may not always be the best way of generating happiness; and if it’s not, you should do something else.
Not all values are terminal values. Some people value coffee because it wakes them up; they don’t value coffee in itself. If they discover that coffee in fact doesn’t wake them up, they should stop valuing coffee.
What is sufficient is demonstrating that if discovery does not promote happiness then it is not valuable. As I explained in my sorting sand example, discovery that does not in any way promote happiness is not worthwhile.