The point as I understand it was to have the humans not have exactly our moral system. Morals evolve over time, and most people in any given generation would be shocked by the ethical and moral attitudes of people a few generations down the line. This attitude of the population reflects that. It also helps broaden the scope of the questions raised by not making one of the moral systems identical to our general moral system, so we don’t immediately look at the morality of the humans and just say “but that’s the right system!”
Overall, while I think I understand why Eliezer did this, it seems to be a very tiny benefit for a very large distraction. Overall, a net negative in getting his points across.
You know, I almost made a flippant remark about the abolition of “bodily pain, embarrassment, and romantic troubles” meaning an end to rape (oh no!) when I remembered untranslatable 4 which is arguably even better, so...
More seriously, I don’t quite understand your question. There doesn’t have to be something wrong with them for them to value different things than we do, such that a victory for them is a loss for us.
The point as I understand it was to have the humans not have exactly our moral system. Morals evolve over time, and most people in any given generation would be shocked by the ethical and moral attitudes of people a few generations down the line. This attitude of the population reflects that. It also helps broaden the scope of the questions raised by not making one of the moral systems identical to our general moral system, so we don’t immediately look at the morality of the humans and just say “but that’s the right system!”
Overall, while I think I understand why Eliezer did this, it seems to be a very tiny benefit for a very large distraction. Overall, a net negative in getting his points across.
It also has the potential to undermine the point of the story if a reader finds non-consensual sex as abhorrent as eating babies.
Babyeaters vs Superhappies vs Libertarapists:
Whoever wins, we lose.
What’s wrong with the superhappies?
You know, I almost made a flippant remark about the abolition of “bodily pain, embarrassment, and romantic troubles” meaning an end to rape (oh no!) when I remembered untranslatable 4 which is arguably even better, so...
More seriously, I don’t quite understand your question. There doesn’t have to be something wrong with them for them to value different things than we do, such that a victory for them is a loss for us.
OK, thanks, I agree with you.