Thanks, Ben. I agree that a nation has instrumental motives that are different in kind from those an individual might have, and those motives might create the misimpression that the nation cares about foreign lives more than it actually does. Disentangling these motives would be important so we’re sure to begin with an accurate baseline ratio.
I disagree that nations’ concerns are entirely (noting that you say “almost entirely”) instrumental, precisely because—in theory—a democratically elected government represents the electorate, and we, the electorate, are not indifferent to foreign lives. A president who had no qualms eradicating an entire nation when it is in America’s strategic interests would not (I hope) be reelected.
I also agree that America does not have a consistent provincialism ratio, for many reasons. One reason is that where casualties won’t come to light, the government is less likely to make sacrifices to prevent them. That, however, is simply a failure of the democratic process. In a perfect world, the entire electorate would be aware of every decision its representatives made, and their consequences. When our government touts its military accomplishments but hides those accomplishments’ true costs—knowing that their constituencies would not be okay with those costs—they’re stepping outside their proper role as our representatives.
Thanks, Ben. I agree that a nation has instrumental motives that are different in kind from those an individual might have, and those motives might create the misimpression that the nation cares about foreign lives more than it actually does. Disentangling these motives would be important so we’re sure to begin with an accurate baseline ratio.
I disagree that nations’ concerns are entirely (noting that you say “almost entirely”) instrumental, precisely because—in theory—a democratically elected government represents the electorate, and we, the electorate, are not indifferent to foreign lives. A president who had no qualms eradicating an entire nation when it is in America’s strategic interests would not (I hope) be reelected.
I also agree that America does not have a consistent provincialism ratio, for many reasons. One reason is that where casualties won’t come to light, the government is less likely to make sacrifices to prevent them. That, however, is simply a failure of the democratic process. In a perfect world, the entire electorate would be aware of every decision its representatives made, and their consequences. When our government touts its military accomplishments but hides those accomplishments’ true costs—knowing that their constituencies would not be okay with those costs—they’re stepping outside their proper role as our representatives.