I understand that you lose a lot (and I appreciate your blog posts). But that is not an argument that additivity is correct. As I’ve written for my upcoming book:
Imagine a universe that has only two worlds, World R and World FL. In World R, Ricky the Rooster is the only sentient being, and is suffering in an absolutely miserable life.
This is bad. But where is it bad? In Ricky’s consciousness. And nowhere else.
On World FL, Rooster Foghorn is living in one forest and Rooster Leghorn is living in a separate forest. They are the World FL’s only sentient beings, and don’t know each other. Their lives are as bad as Ricky’s.
Our natural response is to think that World FL is twice as bad as World R. But where could it possibly be twice as bad? Foghorn’s life is bad in his consciousness and nowhere else. Leghorn’s life is bad in his consciousness and nowhere else.
Where is their world twice as bad as Ricky’s?
Nowhere.
Okay, yes, I admit it is twice as bad in your mind and my mind. But we are not part of that universe. Imagine that these worlds are unknown to any other sentient being. Then there is simply nowhere that World FL is worse than World R.
In this universe, there are three worlds and only three worlds: one in each of their minds.
Tell me where I am factually wrong. Please, I’m asking you. My life would be much easier and happier if you would.
Don’t say that the implications of this insight leads to absurd conclusions that offend our intuitions. I already know that! Just tell me where am I factually wrong.
I know (oh, yes, I know) that this seems like it can’t possibly be right. This is because we can’t help but be utilitarian in this regard, just like we can’t help but feel like we are in control of our consciousness and our decisions and our choices.
But I can see no way around this simple fact: morally-relevant “badness” exists only in individual consciousnesses.
I understand that you lose a lot (and I appreciate your blog posts). But that is not an argument that additivity is correct. As I’ve written for my upcoming book:
Imagine a universe that has only two worlds, World R and World FL. In World R, Ricky the Rooster is the only sentient being, and is suffering in an absolutely miserable life.
This is bad. But where is it bad? In Ricky’s consciousness. And nowhere else.
On World FL, Rooster Foghorn is living in one forest and Rooster Leghorn is living in a separate forest. They are the World FL’s only sentient beings, and don’t know each other. Their lives are as bad as Ricky’s.
Our natural response is to think that World FL is twice as bad as World R. But where could it possibly be twice as bad? Foghorn’s life is bad in his consciousness and nowhere else. Leghorn’s life is bad in his consciousness and nowhere else.
Where is their world twice as bad as Ricky’s?
Nowhere.
Okay, yes, I admit it is twice as bad in your mind and my mind. But we are not part of that universe. Imagine that these worlds are unknown to any other sentient being. Then there is simply nowhere that World FL is worse than World R.
In this universe, there are three worlds and only three worlds: one in each of their minds.
Tell me where I am factually wrong. Please, I’m asking you. My life would be much easier and happier if you would.
Don’t say that the implications of this insight leads to absurd conclusions that offend our intuitions. I already know that! Just tell me where am I factually wrong.
I know (oh, yes, I know) that this seems like it can’t possibly be right. This is because we can’t help but be utilitarian in this regard, just like we can’t help but feel like we are in control of our consciousness and our decisions and our choices.
But I can see no way around this simple fact: morally-relevant “badness” exists only in individual consciousnesses.