(9) is more straightforward utilitarian than virtue ethics: most kids can become self-perpetuating utility creators upon reaching adulthood, and indeed go on to create geometrically more self-perpetuating utility creators!
Agreed, though, that this does not acknowledge that raising kids takes a lot of work, and that for many people there are far cheaper ways to create utility.
The idea that life is inherently sweet and good is from Aristotle (Politics III.6).
And therefore, men, even when they do not require one another’s help, desire to live together; not but that they are also brought together by their common interests in proportion as they severally attain to any measure of well-being. This is certainly the chief end, both of individuals and of states. And also for the sake of mere life (in which there is possibly some noble element so long as the evils of existence do not greatly overbalance the good) mankind meet together and maintain the political community. And we all see that men cling to life even at the cost of enduring great misfortune, seeming to find in life a natural sweetness and happiness.
The idea that even if you don’t currently enjoy raising children that you will eventually see the value is taken from the Ethics (that your character will develop towards the character of a righteous person) and Agnes Callard (that you can bootstrap to higher plane of values through aspiration).
I think mine was a pretty fair representation of the classical Aristotelian view, except I said “update utility function” instead of “develop a more virtuous character.”
(9) is more straightforward utilitarian than virtue ethics: most kids can become self-perpetuating utility creators upon reaching adulthood, and indeed go on to create geometrically more self-perpetuating utility creators!
Agreed, though, that this does not acknowledge that raising kids takes a lot of work, and that for many people there are far cheaper ways to create utility.
The idea that life is inherently sweet and good is from Aristotle (Politics III.6).
The idea that even if you don’t currently enjoy raising children that you will eventually see the value is taken from the Ethics (that your character will develop towards the character of a righteous person) and Agnes Callard (that you can bootstrap to higher plane of values through aspiration).
I think mine was a pretty fair representation of the classical Aristotelian view, except I said “update utility function” instead of “develop a more virtuous character.”
Ah, thanks for correcting me. I wasn’t aware of that provenance.
I suppose what I really meant was “something close to 9, in utilitarian terms, feels pretty compelling to me.” :-)