| | Hi Bill,
I agree. It isn't an easy subject.
You asked about maximizing happiness. I think there's some circularity there. Happiness is an emotional state or response. But as an emotion, it's based on responses to your value-judgements. How do you decide on the value-judgments in the first place?
In the context of time preference, you say "Doesn't it depend on his or her personal values?". Well, time preference is just a description of your personal values. It's not something that precedes them. If you happen to value instant gratification, always preferring values that are immediate, we could discuss your time preference. But it doesn't tell you whether your values are rational or not. I don't think you can simply say that you value this set of things more, so therefore you should value those things more.
To bring rationality to the decision, you need some cognitive method of deciding which values best promote your life. You can't simply use 'happiness' or 'time-preference' as the standard, as those both results from your value choices. You need some way of deciding what values will promote your life, and consequently make you happy. You need some way of deciding whether a value in the future is worth more or less than a value in the present.
If we rule out emotions as our guide, it leaves the question of how do we make these kinds of choices. When I have to make a trade-off between a value now and in the future, how do I make the choice. Part of it is through projection of my life into the future. I don't see the future as unconnected from myself. But I also don't see the present as just a means for the future. I integrate. My present life is not simply the momentary pleasures or emotions I feel right this second. I see it as a part of a process, or a progression. I'm not simply acting. I'm living my life.
So in my articles, I discuss life as a progression. Not simply as a series of actions, or a means to some ultimate purpose which when I accomplish it'll all be over. Instead, it's a process of action aimed at expanding my choices, pursuing my goals, and keeping enough values in my life that I enjoy the process. I don't think this is simply one man's value choices. I think this is what life means. It's a constant self-generated, self-sustaining action, seeking ever greater values, and moving in a direction with more options and more capabilities.
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