Oddbean new post about | logout
 Thank you. It's been a while since I looked at Hume and I must say I look to utilitarianism so it is my lens here. 

There is knowledge, like the idea of 2 + 2=4 it is. There is no moral judgment as it is. It may change tomorrow if we construct it so, kinda like Pluto being or not being a planet. We are still able to construct our knowledge on its “is”

A unit of Pleasure or good simply is. The creation of more is better than its absence. 

In its simplest form, I can see how someone could derive pleasure from causing pain to someone. This would create a net loss of utility as the pain/ displeasure would be greater than the positive. 

From any action, there is a maximum/ minimum utility. I am not an omniscient being and am unable to know every maximum utility instead I take all the information I can and make the most utility of my choice given my current knowledge. An individual must act as inaction is still action. I prefer more utility to less as it creates more positives in the world. 


TLDR: pleasure is good in itself 
It should be fully maximized for all.