Ask A Genius 699: Golden Gone Platinum
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen and Rick Rosner
Publication (Outlet/Website): Ask A Genius
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2022/01/27
[Recording Start]
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: The golden rule suggests a false universal desire, implying that everyone wants exactly the same things, rather than a statistical approximation of similar desires.
Rick Rosner: To clarify, the golden rule is to treat others as you would like to be treated.
Jacobsen: That rule has its flaws. There’s another concept known as the platinum rule.
Rosner: Is that really a thing?
Jacobsen: Yes, it’s a genuine concept you can find online. Its relevance grows when considering the cognitive and emotional diversity within a species, affecting how individuals and groups prefer to be treated.
Rosner: So, it recognizes diversity, sort of a modern, enlightened version of the golden rule.
Jacobsen: Precisely, it’s about treating others as they wish to be treated. Preferences vary widely; some prefer pie, others cake.
Rosner: Essentially, being nice should be defined by the recipients of that kindness.
Jacobsen: True, for some, being nice might mean giving them space, while for others, it could border on over-attentiveness.
Rosner: Or it could be as extreme as engaging in unusual activities with them.
Jacobsen: [Laughs] Or, as shown in films like ‘Jackass Forever’, it might just involve humorous antics.
Rosner: Right. In the future, considering our nature as evolved beings, we recognize that despite variations, there are consistent basic human needs and desires, from physical necessities to emotional cravings. These are common due to our shared evolutionary history.
However, the ‘enlightened’ golden rule becomes more complex when we consider the potential for engineering consciousnesses. In the future, we might create synthetic or replicate natural consciousnesses. These consciousnesses, while not material in feeling, are linked materially through the brain and mind. We might be able to design their desires and preferences.
In this context, treating others as they wish to be treated usually aligns with common decency, although there are rare instances where this may not be the case, like in certain unconventional scenarios.
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Jacobsen: Additionally, we must consider the psychological aspect, questioning whether engaging in certain behaviors, even if consensual, is psychologically healthy.
Rosner: Indeed.
Jacobsen: The platinum rule, while imperfect, offers a more nuanced and comprehensive guideline than the golden rule, in my view.
Rosner: Yes.
[Recording End]
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