Essays

Moral truths weren’t handed down from a mountain-top. They can be described as a result of cultural evolution and group selection. This makes many cynical about morality. I disagree. I have experience and it matters. I infer that other beings also have experience that matters. In fact, empathy makes me experience what they (I infer) experience. I want what is best for them independent of how it affects me, i.e. I include their experience in my utility function. It is also true that I care about my family and friends’ experience more than that of strangers’. I think that’s okay. I believe my dog also has experience that matters; ants I’m less sure. Rocks almost certainly not. Conscious experience is what should ground ethics and to do this properly we need a Theory of Consciousness.