Well, suppose I’m a successful assassin: my life seems to me to have very high utility, but in fact I am the source of overwhelming net disutility. I take my life to be worth living, but you might think if I were clear-eyed about my situation, I would consider a painless death to be preferable than going on as before.
But that’s just off the top of my head, I haven’t really thought that through.
Yes.
Can I be wrong about whether my life is worth living?
Maybe, if you misremember what’s happened in the past or incorrectly predict what will happen in the future.
But I can’t be wrong about the value of my life if I’m clear-eyed about the past and future?
I wasn’t making a claim about that. Do you have a certain hypothetical in mind?
Well, suppose I’m a successful assassin: my life seems to me to have very high utility, but in fact I am the source of overwhelming net disutility. I take my life to be worth living, but you might think if I were clear-eyed about my situation, I would consider a painless death to be preferable than going on as before.
But that’s just off the top of my head, I haven’t really thought that through.
I was discussing immediate impacts rather than indirect consequences. Discussion of indirect consequences will follow.