[ExI] People are Genuine Altruists, Sociopaths, or Confused/Moody

[Damien Broderick]

At 01:26 PM 8/30/2008 -0700, Lee wrote:

>(2) if it was revealed to you that you were living in a simulation
>            wherein you were the only conscious person, and everyone
>            else merely a puppet under the manipulation of a cold,
>            distant, infinitely calculating entity who had no emotions
>            whatsoever... would your behavior towards others change
>            at all?
>
>           If you can answer yes to either (1) or (2), you possess genuine
>           altruism.

This has got to be wrong, and suggests a flaw in your definition of 
altruism (which I think must embody a benefit to some other person 
with interests). If you treat your toaster well, are you more 
altruistic than someone who never cleans it or even smashes it on the 
bench when it burns the toast?

Damien Broderick