X-Message-Number: 5559
From: 
Date: Wed, 10 Jan 1996 11:34:02 -0500
Subject: values

Dwight Jones (#5557), commenting on self-interest, suggests that a feel-good
criterion is the Epicurean model and leads to a drive for "instant
gratification" and "blatant short term self interest." This is not my view.

Obviously--given some fairly reasonable assumptions--we need to focus on
longer term self interest, including internal and external feed-back effects,
and the technical difficulties of this stymied the Epicureans (and Hedonists
and Utilitarians). But we have most of the necessary math, and are beginning
to understand the biology, which means that--for the first time--philosophy
may become equal to its original task, providing guidance to the individual
in life's choices. 

Mr. Jones  speaks of value systems "loftier" than "human nature"--by which he
appears to mean self interest--and wants to take a "much longer view." 

Certainly we usually need to avoid very short term views, but it is easily
seen that an extremely long term view is inappropriate also, since the
distant future can only be dimly guessed. Correct decisions require
sophisticated probability calculations, including (as mentioned) internal and
external feedbacks. Fortunately, some of these calculations can be made
quickly and almost automatically on the basis of experience and fuzzy logic;
unfortunately, the problem is still formidable enough to be very unwelcome to
most people, and beyond their present capabilities as individuals.

As for value systems "loftier" than self interest, there aren't any and
cannot be (under any reasonable assumptions about the nature of reality). The
only things that can possibly matter to you--directly--are those occurring in
your own head; hence valid values can only be based on personal
feel-good/feel-bad, as projected over time. But an enormous task remains in
sorting out the many (and often apparently conflcting) types of
feel-good/feel-bad and their hierarchies, and complete success will require
advances in the understanding of brain biology.

If Mr. Jones only wants his DNA preserved, and would be satisfied with a new
"instantiation" as a "clone" of himself--as his message seems to say--then he
has made assumptions about the nature of identity and criteria of survival
that are not warranted by available evidence.

Of course, it goes without saying that many mindsets, irrespective of logic
or evidence, can tend to lead to comfort and even happiness, and those who
embrace them could be the lucky ones. But those who demand honesty, logic and
evidence cannot take such routes. 

Robert Ettinger

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