The Revelation of Evil

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The book 'Evil' by Roy Baumeister explores the concept of evil and the perception of criminals.
There is a human tendency to separate oneself from perceived evil and view it as unacceptable.
It is unsettling to realize that individuals we see as evil may not see themselves that way.
People who commit horrific acts often believe they are acting in a justifiable and even admirable manner.
There is a misconception that evil individuals are aware of their own malevolence, when in fact they consider themselves virtuous.

It seems obvious that moral artificial intelligence would be better than the alternative. But psychologist Paul Bloom of the University of Toronto thinks moral AI is not just a meaningless goal but a bad one. Listen as Bloom and EconTalk's Russ Roberts have a wide-ranging conversation about the nature of AI, the nature of morality, and the value of ensuring that we mortals can keep doing stupid or terrible things.