Egyptology and fanaticism
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21370573 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Heather Wilkinson (0000-0001-8570-3351, University of Oxford, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Volume | 181 |
| Issue | 8 |
| Pages | 1903-1923 |
| Publication date | 2024-08-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Philosophical Studies (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0031-8116 • E-ISSN: 1573-0883 |
| Publisher | Springer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1007/s11098-024-02180-0 |
| OpenAlex | W4399883356 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 3 |
| References cited | 16 |
Various decision theories share a troubling implication. They imply that, for any finite amount of value, it would be better to wager it all for a vanishingly small probability of some greater value. Counterintuitive as it might be, this fanaticism has seemingly compelling independent arguments in its favour. In this paper, I consider perhaps the most prima facie compelling such argument: an Egyptology argument (an analogue of the Egyptology argument from population ethics). I show that, despite recent objections from Russell (Noûs, 2023) and Goodsell (Analysis 81(3):420–426, 2021), the argument’s premises can be justified and defended, and the argument itself remains compelling
Argument (complex analysis) · Counterintuitive · Egyptology · Epistemology · Fanaticism · Metaphysics · Philosophy of mind · Political science · Prima facie · Value (mathematics) · Chemistry · Classics · Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics · Epistemology, Ethics, and Metaphysics · History · Law · Mathematics · Philosophy · Philosophy and Theoretical Science
Separability and Population Ethics
Risk and Rationality
Problems of Population Theory Obligations to Future Generations . R. I. Sikora , Brian Barry
Weighing Lives
A paradox for tiny probabilities and enormous values
On two arguments for fanaticism
In Defense of Fanaticism
Population Issues in Social Choice Theory, Welfare Economics, and Ethics
Infinite Prospects
Regret Theory
Can Risk Aversion Survive the Long Run
| Unique citing works | 3 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 3 |
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 3 |