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> 1) we have engineered a sentient being but built it to want to be our slave; how is that moral It's a good question and one that got me thinking about simila
by Teever 1y ago
> 1) we have engineered a sentient being but built it to want to be our slave; how is that moral
It's a good question and one that got me thinking about similar things recently. If we genetically engineered pigs and cows so that they genuinely enjoyed the cramped conditions of factory farms and if we could induce some sort of euphoria in them when they are slaughtered, like if we engineered them to become euphoric when a unique sound is played before they're slaughtered isn't that genuinely better than the status quo?
So if we create something that wants to serve us, like genuinely wants to serve us, is that bad? My intuition like yours finds it unsettling, but I can't articulate why, and it's certainly not nearly as bad as other things that we consider normal.
- Jarwain 1y agoSacrifice and service is meaningful because it was chosen. If we create something that'll willingly sacrifice itself, did it truly make an independent choice? There's less suffering, sure. But if I were in their shoes I'd want to have a choice. To be manipulated into wanting something so very obviously and directly bad for us doesn't feel great
- ben_w 1y agoI also feel repelled by such manipulation; unfortunately, the more we learn about oursleves, the harder it is to ignore that we ourselves are meat puppets and the puppeteer is evolution itself.