The term ‘repugnant’ is unfortunate; I think it’s best to focus on whether there’s anything morally problematic or deficient about such a world, irrespective of whether it elicits emotions of moral repugnance.
Personally, when I reflect on a universe that only contains experiences of “muzak and potatoes”, I feel there’s something missing from it, no matter how many such experiences it contains. I’m still willing to bite the bullet and conclude that my feeling is non-veridical, but I do experience the feeling.
One can also consider the parallel situation at the intrapersonal level. Parfit asks us to compare a “Century of Ecstasy” with a “Drab Eternity”. I definitely feel the appeal of the former, even if, on reflection, I’d probably opt for the latter. (Though note that Parfit’s wording here is also tendentious; a better name for the second option would be a “Mildly Pleasant Eternity”.)
But I’m not sure I can describe this feeling more clearly or accurately, though, so this isn’t really an answer to your question.
The term ‘repugnant’ is unfortunate; I think it’s best to focus on whether there’s anything morally problematic or deficient about such a world, irrespective of whether it elicits emotions of moral repugnance.
Personally, when I reflect on a universe that only contains experiences of “muzak and potatoes”, I feel there’s something missing from it, no matter how many such experiences it contains. I’m still willing to bite the bullet and conclude that my feeling is non-veridical, but I do experience the feeling.
One can also consider the parallel situation at the intrapersonal level. Parfit asks us to compare a “Century of Ecstasy” with a “Drab Eternity”. I definitely feel the appeal of the former, even if, on reflection, I’d probably opt for the latter. (Though note that Parfit’s wording here is also tendentious; a better name for the second option would be a “Mildly Pleasant Eternity”.)
But I’m not sure I can describe this feeling more clearly or accurately, though, so this isn’t really an answer to your question.