I think most non-utilitarians would say that the real reason you’d save a loved one instead of a stranger is because you *love* them (duh!). And the reason you come across as having an “alienated mentality” is precisely because you intellectualize your decision and dress it up with utilitarian philosophy instead of just admitting that emotions are relevant and matter.
Even your decision to be a utilitarian is probably more motivated by feelings and your own self-conception as a “rational” smart person than anything about the philosophy itself. To wit: I almost never see utilitarians actually construct an argument for why being having utilitarian beliefs is the best way to achieve utilitarian ends. Instead it’s simply assumed.
I think you’ll have a better understanding of yourself, other people, and the world if you admit to yourself that math and rationality aren’t the only things that matter. I don’t think people can truly get beyond limited human perspective, and if you try to take the perspective of the entire universe you’ll just be reinforcing your own biases in a slightly less direct manner.
I think most non-utilitarians would say that the real reason you’d save a loved one instead of a stranger is because you *love* them (duh!). And the reason you come across as having an “alienated mentality” is precisely because you intellectualize your decision and dress it up with utilitarian philosophy instead of just admitting that emotions are relevant and matter.
Even your decision to be a utilitarian is probably more motivated by feelings and your own self-conception as a “rational” smart person than anything about the philosophy itself. To wit: I almost never see utilitarians actually construct an argument for why being having utilitarian beliefs is the best way to achieve utilitarian ends. Instead it’s simply assumed.
I think you’ll have a better understanding of yourself, other people, and the world if you admit to yourself that math and rationality aren’t the only things that matter. I don’t think people can truly get beyond limited human perspective, and if you try to take the perspective of the entire universe you’ll just be reinforcing your own biases in a slightly less direct manner.