Peterdjones comments on What is Metaethics?

Peterdjones 4 May 2011 17:32 UTC
−2 points

for the beliefs that matter

What makes them matter?

What can one do with a preference to figure out if it should be strongly held?

Reason about it?
- TimFreeman 4 May 2011 17:55 UTC
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  What makes [beliefs] matter?
  
  Empirical content. That is, a belief matters if it makes or implies statements about things one might observe.
  
  What can one do with a preference to figure out if it should be strongly held?
  
  Reason about it?
  
  Can you give an example? I tried to make one at http://lesswrong.com/lw/5eh/what_is_metaethics/43fh, but it twisted around into revising a belief instead of revising a preference.
  - Peterdjones 4 May 2011 19:58 UTC
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    Empirical content. That is, a belief matters if it makes or implies statements about things one might observe.
    
    So it doesn’t matter if it only affects what you will do?
    - TimFreeman 4 May 2011 20:06 UTC
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      Empirical content. That is, a belief matters if it makes or implies statements about things one might observe.
      
      So it doesn’t matter if it only affects what you will do?
      
      If I’m thinking for the purpose of figuring out my future actions, that’s a plan, not a belief, since planning is relevant when I haven’t yet decided what to do.
      
      I suppose beliefs about other people’s actions are empirical.
      
      I’ve lost the relevance of this thread. Please state a purpose if you wish to continue, and if I like it, I’ll reply.