From: Robin Hanson (rhanson@gmu.edu)
Date: Wed Sep 06 2000 - 08:56:25 MDT
Stirling Westrup wrote:
> > >Under standard accounts, decisions are made by combining positions
> > >on values and beliefs about facts. ... So which is it, do our
> > >disagreements with opponents tend to be more about values, or more
> > >about facts?
>
>I previously ignored the question, not because I don't have an answer, but
>because I've usually discovered difficulties due to a failure to agree on
>what are facts and what are values. ...
>As an example, I will state that there is no reason to believe that there
>is any fundamental limit to the human lifespan if assisted by appropriate
>technology. This is so clearly a fact to me, that I have trouble figuring
>out how to reply to someone who holds that it is merely part of my value
>system, and that they have different values.
I mean you to answer the question in terms of what *you* consider facts
versus values.
Robin Hanson rhanson@gmu.edu http://hanson.gmu.edu
Asst. Prof. Economics, George Mason University
MSN 1D3, Carow Hall, Fairfax VA 22030-4444
703-993-2326 FAX: 703-993-2323
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