Rationalist argues distance-blind utilitarian math is the wrong frame for animal ethics
tracewoodgrains · x · 2026-09-22
Responding to "how many animals equal one human life," tracewoodgrains argues the question presupposes the wrong frame: duties to self, family, community, nation, humanity and the world are nested, with nearer duties taking priority. Treating animals well matters, but god's-eye distance-blind utilitarian arithmetic is fundamentally the wrong tool. The exchange is part of the EA-circle feud sparked by Bentham's Bulldog's "people matter less than insects" piece.
Related event: EA's "Insects Matter More Than People" Essay Sparks Trust Crisis(10 posts)→
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