Cost-Benefit Analysis in Light of the Non-Identity Problem

re: Cost-Benefit Analysis in Light of the Non-Identity Problem

Donny with an A — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 05:24:35 GMT

I addressed this issue in my previous post:

libertarian-left.blogspot.com/.../does-fact-that-individuals-discount.html

Hopefully that answers your objection.

re: Cost-Benefit Analysis in Light of the Non-Identity Problem

Geoffrey Allan Plauche — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 21:58:07 GMT

"equal rights *of* every rational being"

re: Cost-Benefit Analysis in Light of the Non-Identity Problem

Geoffrey Allan Plauche — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 21:57:46 GMT

I still don't agree with it. My preferences are more important to me than yours are to me. I see nothing unethical about that. And I can still uphold the equal rights over every rational being.

re: Cost-Benefit Analysis in Light of the Non-Identity Problem

Donny with an A — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 21:23:05 GMT

I should have been more specific. Within the paradigm of cost-benefit analysis, it is unethical to treat some individuals' preferences as being less important than others'. Does that make more sense?

re: Cost-Benefit Analysis in Light of the Non-Identity Problem

Geoffrey Allan Plauche — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 21:13:06 GMT

"I concluded that discounting of future damage is unethical because it treats future people as if their interests matter less than present people's."

Hhmmm... I do think the interests of future people matters less, just like the interests of strangers half way around the world matters less than the interests of my friends and family. As an Aristotelian this is quite natural to me. This doesn't preclude me also thinking that currently living persons have rights while future persons do not have rights until they are actually existing. This also doesn't preclude me thinking that the interests of strangers and future persons may be something I should take into consideration.

Also as an Aristotelian, I'm also leery of cost-benefit analysis playing a dominant role in determining what is the right thing to do.