On Thu, 30 Jan 2003, Tim May wrote:
> This is a terribly important point, and failure to understand this
> point is the source of more disagreements than I can count.
>
> "What if everyone thought that way?" (Fallacy, as my actions will NOT
> affect the choices of others, a situation most evident in the standard
> "Does it make sense to vote in elections?" debate.)
False, your actions do effect others. If you didn't believe that why write
your manifesto? Why even get up in the morning?
> "If we all started driving electric vehicles, think of how we could
> change the world!" (Fallacy, as my choice to drive or not drive an
> electric vehicle will not affect the choices of others, at least not to
> anything more significant than fifth or sixth order.)
Actually it will, Schilling Point, Economy of Scale, Network Effects, etc.
> "You didn't factor in the benefit of saving the planet." (Fallacy.
> Saving the planet depends on a lot of things. Spending more for a less
> safe vehicle so as to affect the planet by one part in 10 to the 9 is
> not wise. Plus, the alternative fuels are not all they are cracked up
> to be.)
Every little bit helps. The fallacy in your view is that it assumes
covertly that unless you can make a big change anything else is not worth
anything. You want it all or none.
> As Marshall said, things are what they are. Each actor should act as he
> sees fit. For most of us, this means maximizing returns (maximum
> expected utility, MEU) based on local, immediate choices.
The world is as we make it. Our decisions each and every day change the
way it is. If somebody simply decides not to pull a trigger the world
changes.
> This is often called the Prisoner's Dilemma. Or greed. Or self-interest.
False Comparison.
> "But what if everyone thought that way?"
Then people wouldn't be people. But the hallmark of people is that they
don't see the world the same way, even when viewing the -exact same
facts-. You fail to factor in opinion, which is based =precisely- on the
way -we want the world to be ideally-.
--
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We are all interested in the future for that is where you and I
are going to spend the rest of our lives.
Criswell, "Plan 9 from Outer Space"
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