That makes sense and I would agree with the idea that honesty is usually helpful for conseuqentialist reasons, but I think it is important to recognise cases where it is not.
Broadly, these cases are where the view you’re expressing doesn’t really help you do more good and the view brings a lot of harm to your reputation.
So as much as I disagree with Bostrom’s object level views on race / IQ, I think he should have lied about his views.
Another example I wrote down elsewhere:
If you were an atheist in a rural, conservative part of Afghanistan today aiming to improve the world by challenging the mistreatment of women and LGBT people, and you told people that you think that God doesn’t exist, even if that was you accurately expressing your true beliefs, you would be so far from the Overton Window that you’re probably making it more difficult for yourself to improve things for LGBT people and women. Much better to say that you’re a Muslim and you think women and LGBT people should be treated better.
For what it’s worth, I have my commitment to honesty primarily for consequentialist reasons.
That makes sense and I would agree with the idea that honesty is usually helpful for conseuqentialist reasons, but I think it is important to recognise cases where it is not.
Broadly, these cases are where the view you’re expressing doesn’t really help you do more good and the view brings a lot of harm to your reputation.
So as much as I disagree with Bostrom’s object level views on race / IQ, I think he should have lied about his views.
Another example I wrote down elsewhere:
If you were an atheist in a rural, conservative part of Afghanistan today aiming to improve the world by challenging the mistreatment of women and LGBT people, and you told people that you think that God doesn’t exist, even if that was you accurately expressing your true beliefs, you would be so far from the Overton Window that you’re probably making it more difficult for yourself to improve things for LGBT people and women. Much better to say that you’re a Muslim and you think women and LGBT people should be treated better.