Reflecting on Historical Moral Atrocities

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The chapter delves into the implications of using a decision-making process based on maximizing expected choice worthiness throughout history, questioning if it could have prevented past moral atrocities. It highlights the debates around moral progress, ethical reasoning, and the challenges of applying utilitarianism and consequentialism effectively. The discussion also examines moral uncertainties, effective altruism, and the complexities individuals face when making moral decisions.

Oxford philosophy professor Will MacAskill joins us to talk about effective altruism, moral uncertainty, and why you shouldn’t eat your grandmother (even if consequentialism is true). How should we act when we’re not sure which moral theory is the right one? Can we formulate a guide for behavior, modeled on decision theory, that maximizes expected moral value? How do we assign credences to ethical (as opposed to empirical) claims? Why has effective altruism become so popular, so fast, yet at the same time seem off-putting to many people? Plus, Tamler faces a dilemma when narrating his audiobook, and Dave is the Louis CK of his own backyard.

0:00 - 25:41 Tamler's dilemma and Guilty Confessions.

25:41 -31:15 Break, contact info, updates, thanks to our listeners and supporters.

31:16 -1:43:19 Wil MacAskill interview.

Special Guest: William MacAskill.

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