tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310450667755637519.post5432547696622518918..comments2023-10-14T09:40:06.690-05:00Comments on Jean Kazez: Collective Obligation, Personal VirtueJean Kazezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00592593002719828153noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310450667755637519.post-7444739477983345822012-04-29T08:20:27.208-05:002012-04-29T08:20:27.208-05:00Jean, Why is it "intolerably intrusive" ...Jean, Why is it "intolerably intrusive" to suggest any moral obligation regarding reproduction rate? The decision to reproduce has consequences for others just as much as any other kind of activity such as fencing land or making food choices.<br /><br />With regard to rule utility, I don't think Mulgan's (and anon's) suggestion is optimal unless one knows that the expected Alan Cooperhttp://qpr.ca/blognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310450667755637519.post-39588008003183512052012-04-27T16:41:04.036-05:002012-04-27T16:41:04.036-05:00Sorry for the slow response.
Alan, I've been ...Sorry for the slow response.<br /><br />Alan, I've been convinced by various authors that it's just intolerably intrusive to think someone has an obligation to have more children or fewer children, except "in extremis"--in very weird scenarios from sci fi movies. Thus the attempt to put obligation at a social level and not at the individual level.<br /><br />Anon--interestinglyJean Kazezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06297159994901018071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310450667755637519.post-49003923330205199782012-04-26T12:26:19.930-05:002012-04-26T12:26:19.930-05:00Heh, I'm not one usually to whip out Kierkegaa...Heh, I'm not one usually to whip out Kierkegaard, but universal prescriptions say nothing about an individual's predicament. <br /><br />You're talking about a moral good on a macroscopic social level. I'm not sure that ever translates to an individual responsibility. Sure, individual responsibilities get translated to social principles (don't murder, etc), but when we try Waynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08627147979307495870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310450667755637519.post-80597868599668571282012-04-26T11:13:09.315-05:002012-04-26T11:13:09.315-05:00I think this is a classic "game theory" ...I think this is a classic "game theory" scenario, and there has to be some feedback to close the information loop. <br /><br />What if you know others don't care about the ideal rate and will have all the kids they want? Should you modify your strategy to steer towards the ideal rate, or should you somehow retaliate (taxes, etc) against these "free riders"?<br /><br />I Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310450667755637519.post-18840151049567828452012-04-25T19:40:49.948-05:002012-04-25T19:40:49.948-05:00What's wrong with the rule that if the current...What's wrong with the rule that if the current actual birthrate is less than ideal then it is a moral failing to have less children than you can effectively support and if the current birthrate is higher than the ideal then it is a moral failing to exceed the ideal?Alan Cooperhttp://qpr.ca/blognoreply@blogger.com