From: Robin Hanson (rhanson@gmu.edu)
Date: Wed Jun 18 2003 - 12:39:50 MDT
On 6/18/2003, Mark Walker wrote:
> > ... self-deception may be what some, or even most people, really want in
> > reflective equilibrium. ... Bet ... the few minutes a day you are
> rational,
> > and then go back to your blissful ignorance.
>
>Do you think choosing this life would be a moral failing? I think this is
>where we entered into the debate. I thought you felt the same pull as me
>that abandoning the truth is a moral failing of some sort. (And if so, what
>is the basis for this claim?) This is not to say that if we think there is a
>moral failing here that we would coerce people into not living the life of
>blissful ignorance, this is only a question of how we are to judge them.
I'm torn. On the one hand I have as strong an emotional reaction of disgust
and moral indignation as I ever have to anything when I think of people
purposely allowing themselves to believe false things. It is as close to
"sin" as I see. But on the other hand, I have the economists' usual live
and let live reaction; it isn't bad per se unless it has bad consequences.
I don't see any easy way to resolve this.
Robin Hanson rhanson@gmu.edu http://hanson.gmu.edu
Assistant Professor of Economics, George Mason University
MSN 1D3, Carow Hall, Fairfax VA 22030-4444
703-993-2326 FAX: 703-993-2323
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