TYLER COWEN: the future of humanity
Lives Well Lived
Exploring Utility, Economic Growth, and Ethical Principles
The speaker discusses the concept of utility, mentioning the importance of maximizing good or well-being. They express skepticism about making micro-comparisons of utility but feel confident that countries with significant economic growth are generally better. The speaker derives their policy recommendations from the idea of increasing sustainable economic growth. They highlight the subjective nature of assessing one's own life, citing an example from Vietnam. The discussion delves into the happiness rankings of different countries, pointing out the distinction between life satisfaction and happiness moments. Additionally, the speaker reveals being two-thirds utilitarian and emphasizes the importance of moral intuitionism in determining ethics, particularly in recognizing values like autonomy and human rights.
