Actually I am nearly completely on the side of the Super Happies on this one. It is not as if the humans are moral with rape legalized. I’d support the Happies provided: 1. The utility function will not diverge from the goals of a) spreading truth, and eliminating delusion, b) spreading happiness, and eliminating suffering, c) growing, and not dying. With the negative statements taking precedence over the positive ones. 2. That accordingly the babies they will eat to accommodate the Baby Eaters are not only not sentient, but also incapable of suffering of any kind. I.e. have the moral status of a rock. 3. That a negative behaviour feedback is available for things like putting hands on stoves. A painless equivalent needs to be available to prevent anti-utility behaviour.
So, in short I kind of have to admit I dislike both endings.
I think an important part of what makes their ending so terrifying is that you don’t get to make those stipulations. Or any other stipulations. The Superhappies may or may not follow them, that’s their choice—you just don’t get any say, one way or the other.
Indeed, all situations in which one is powerless share that I think. It makes it frightful, but does it make it wrong? I don’t necessarily think it does. Assuming for the moment that those stipulations stand (for reasons not necessarily related to the story) is pain abolitionism really as bad as it seemingly is represented in the story?
Actually I am nearly completely on the side of the Super Happies on this one. It is not as if the humans are moral with rape legalized. I’d support the Happies provided: 1. The utility function will not diverge from the goals of a) spreading truth, and eliminating delusion, b) spreading happiness, and eliminating suffering, c) growing, and not dying. With the negative statements taking precedence over the positive ones. 2. That accordingly the babies they will eat to accommodate the Baby Eaters are not only not sentient, but also incapable of suffering of any kind. I.e. have the moral status of a rock. 3. That a negative behaviour feedback is available for things like putting hands on stoves. A painless equivalent needs to be available to prevent anti-utility behaviour.
So, in short I kind of have to admit I dislike both endings.
I think an important part of what makes their ending so terrifying is that you don’t get to make those stipulations. Or any other stipulations. The Superhappies may or may not follow them, that’s their choice—you just don’t get any say, one way or the other.
Indeed, all situations in which one is powerless share that I think. It makes it frightful, but does it make it wrong? I don’t necessarily think it does. Assuming for the moment that those stipulations stand (for reasons not necessarily related to the story) is pain abolitionism really as bad as it seemingly is represented in the story?