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>Being slightly at fault for someones death is basically a permanent state of affairs, whereas actively killing someone is something few people would be willing

>Being slightly at fault for someones death is basically a permanent state of affairs, whereas actively killing someone is something few people would be willing to do. It definitely makes a difference It only makes a difference in the eyes of the beholder, not for those actually dying Not thinking too hard about reality because reality is nasty is something of a huge bug in the human cognition. Trying hard to not know anything is even desirable from that point of view: it's not neglect if you never bothered getting to a state where you are capable of being responsible for anything

Sebb767 4y ago
> It only makes a difference in the eyes of the beholder, not for those actually dying Unfortunately, that's the one (not) making the decision in this case. > Not thinking too hard about reality because reality is nasty is something of a huge bug in the human cognition. Is, though? I mean, in general we should strive to improve the world, but does getting overwhelmed by all the bad things that you should be doing something about really doesn't help.
- Dudeman112 4y ago
  Maybe if we were overwhelmed by all the bad things that we should be doing something about it would eventually lead us to a point where we would be doing something instead of just living our lives doing nothing (for the most part)? If we are already talking about changing the human cognition, might as well add an ability to function while being aware of the issues
  - a_wild_dandan 4y ago
    I have choice paralysis while buying pants. I'm 100% capable of grabbing a pair and swiping the plastic rectangle. But I just don't know a good solution. I'm afraid of picking wrong. And that's just pants. Hell, even in math -- the most rigorous subject ever -- there are undecidable problems. Asking me to decide squishy issues of who lives and dies, who I should spent resources helping (including myself), etc...that's so many orders of magnitude more complex, so many immediate and cascading future consequences, of unimaginable import. It's crushing, and maybe without a correct (or even good) answer! It's pants ultra out there. If you make me internalize all the issues, then the only decision I'll make is which corner to lay by in the fetal position. The only idyllic "human cognition" fix here is basically omniscience. And that kinda feels like cheating, y'know?

Sebb767 4y ago

> It only makes a difference in the eyes of the beholder, not for those actually dying Unfortunately, that's the one (not) making the decision in this case. > Not thinking too hard about reality because reality is nasty is something of a huge bug in the human cognition. Is, though? I mean, in general we should strive to improve the world, but does getting overwhelmed by all the bad things that you should be doing something about really doesn't help.

Dudeman112 4y ago
Maybe if we were overwhelmed by all the bad things that we should be doing something about it would eventually lead us to a point where we would be doing something instead of just living our lives doing nothing (for the most part)? If we are already talking about changing the human cognition, might as well add an ability to function while being aware of the issues
- a_wild_dandan 4y ago
  I have choice paralysis while buying pants. I'm 100% capable of grabbing a pair and swiping the plastic rectangle. But I just don't know a good solution. I'm afraid of picking wrong. And that's just pants. Hell, even in math -- the most rigorous subject ever -- there are undecidable problems. Asking me to decide squishy issues of who lives and dies, who I should spent resources helping (including myself), etc...that's so many orders of magnitude more complex, so many immediate and cascading future consequences, of unimaginable import. It's crushing, and maybe without a correct (or even good) answer! It's pants ultra out there. If you make me internalize all the issues, then the only decision I'll make is which corner to lay by in the fetal position. The only idyllic "human cognition" fix here is basically omniscience. And that kinda feels like cheating, y'know?