Indeed, thank you for reading and providing feedback.
The evaluation function you request is in the planned 'Goodness' chapter, which I briefly mentioned at the end of the text.
I'm aware it will be difficult to quantify the exact degree of change to the Core Values of Life in any individual or collection of individuals, yet I think this is the same problem all ethical evaluations face. I think exactly how to determine the answer will become clearer as the values are explored in the context of more traditional ethical values (truth, justice, etc), looking at how they are quantified in other methodologies, which institutions are involved, etc. I also desire to do these things in dedicated chapters, as I mention in my list.
Greetings LessWrong.
This is my first post on this site, but I can think of no better place to post this.
I have over the course of my life independently developed my own unique understanding of reality and ethics, and over the last three years attempted to formalize it into a universal theory of ethics. It is still very much a rough outline and a work in progress, but I now think it is mature enough to share with the world.
First though, I feel the need to point out that I am very much a holistic thinker, but not of my own choice. Due to some neurodivergent traits, my mind rejects trivia or traditional... (read 5284 more words →)
This is a point I probably should've addressed directly, thank you for bringing it up.
The point you make is a direct opposite of the frequent (and I think valid) critique of Utilitarianism, which - as you probably know - use pleasure/pain as its primary way of evaluating outcome. You are correct, as written I do not directly state a preference for pleasure versus pain, but rather indirectly include it in the maximization of the Core Values.
However, I think your interpretation is an understandable one given the limitations in my text, if we only think of the Core Values in purely materialistic terms without including the cognitive dimension - an essential component in... (read more)