(Assuming that we wish to choose one in the first place, of course—I do think that there is merit in just accepting that they’re all flawed and then not choosing to endorse any single one.)
Well, that’s been my policy so far, certainly. Some are worse than others, though. “This ethical framework breaks in catastrophic, horrifying fashion, creating an instant dystopia, as soon as we can rewire people’s brains” is pretty darn bad.
Wireheading. The term is not a metaphor, and it’s not a hypothetical. You can literally stick a wire into someone’s pleasure centers and activate them, using only non-groundbreaking neuroscience.
It’s been tested on humans, but AFAIK no-one has ever felt compelled to go any further.
(Yeah, seems like it might be evidence. But then, maybe akrasia...)
Well, that’s been my policy so far, certainly. Some are worse than others, though. “This ethical framework breaks in catastrophic, horrifying fashion, creating an instant dystopia, as soon as we can rewire people’s brains” is pretty darn bad.
… can’t we rewire brains right now? We just … don’t.
Well, we must not be hedonistic utilitarians then, right? Because if we were, and we could, we would.
Edit: Also, what the heck are you talking about?
Wireheading. The term is not a metaphor, and it’s not a hypothetical. You can literally stick a wire into someone’s pleasure centers and activate them, using only non-groundbreaking neuroscience.
It’s been tested on humans, but AFAIK no-one has ever felt compelled to go any further.
(Yeah, seems like it might be evidence. But then, maybe akrasia...)
Where and what are these “pleasure centers”, exactly?