This is exactly right, Emre. We are not commenting on the average amount of value or disvalue that any particular kind of individual adds to the world. Instead, we’re trying to estimate how much value different kinds of individuals could add to the world. You then need to go do the hard work of assessing individuals’ actual welfare levels to make tradeoffs. But that’s as it should be. There’s already been a lot of work on welfare assessment; there’s been much less work on how to interpret the significance of those welfare assessments in cross-species decision-making. We’re trying to advance the latter conversation.
Thank you for the prompt reply Bob. Just to be clear, I am happy about the scope of this project and am impressed by its quality. I do not intend to criticise the report for being mindful about its scope.
This is exactly right, Emre. We are not commenting on the average amount of value or disvalue that any particular kind of individual adds to the world. Instead, we’re trying to estimate how much value different kinds of individuals could add to the world. You then need to go do the hard work of assessing individuals’ actual welfare levels to make tradeoffs. But that’s as it should be. There’s already been a lot of work on welfare assessment; there’s been much less work on how to interpret the significance of those welfare assessments in cross-species decision-making. We’re trying to advance the latter conversation.
Thank you for the prompt reply Bob. Just to be clear, I am happy about the scope of this project and am impressed by its quality. I do not intend to criticise the report for being mindful about its scope.
Didn’t take it that way at all! I appreciate your taking the time to comment and help clarify what we’ve done.