The Problem of Good and Evil

Further on, I will call it the problem, or simply P.

I will consider the problem of good and evil from three points of view.

1. The technical point of view. An approach to a concrete situation in real life competes with other approaches. With which ones? Is it possible to satisfy everyone? How can one search for a compromise between criteria?
2. The social point of view. Society pressures a person through special mechanisms so that he refrains from actions dangerous or harmful to society.
3. The personal point of view. What should a person orient himself by in order to remain on the side of good in a situation of choice?

Here is a sketch for each point.

Technical Approaches

1. Efficiency and Morality

Usually the dilemma efficiency - morality appears.

However, the case becomes difficult when the relation between the output indicators differs at different planning horizons: in time and in social connections.

If, by expanding the horizon, we are forced to declare previously optimal decisions non-optimal, then we must choose the correct horizon.

The general rule is:

in the limit, morality and efficiency coincide

How far the horizon should be expanded is a separate problem, solved in its own way in each concrete case.

2. Multi-Criteria Optimization

A complex point of choice can be considered as a multi-criteria optimization problem.

Von Neumann advised dividing the list of criteria into two parts:

1. one part is placed into constraints;
2. the other is folded into one function, monotone in many parameters.

What is placed into constraints is, by definition, morality.

What is folded into the function is, by definition, efficiency.

3. Optimization by Levels

Optimization can be considered separately from each level.

Then the contribution of odd levels can be treated as efficiency, and the contribution of even levels as morality.

It is important that after every odd level of consideration there should follow the next even, senior level.

Social Approaches

There are mechanisms of pressure: society pressures a person, holding him back from actions dangerous or harmful to society.

Mechanisms of pressure can be horizontal or vertical.

Horizontal Mechanisms

Horizontal mechanisms go along the even levels.

Vertical Mechanisms

Personal Approaches

Here are indicators that people actually use, not always appropriately.

1. Success Is Good

A doubtful criterion.

Counterargument: we may fail to see the main task and solve a secondary one.

See technical approach 1.

2. Signs of the Correct Level Are Good

If we know what the task will be, then signs of the correct level can be taken as good.

An unreliable criterion.

3. The Higher the Level, the Better

A false criterion.

The correct version:

the right level in the right place

4. Individualism Is Evil, Collectivism Is Good

A false criterion.

The correct version:

behind every odd level there must be a senior even level watching over it

5. War, Cooperation, Competition

A good criterion:

war - evil
cooperation - good
competition - compromise

6. Service Levels and Target Levels

A good criterion:

where target levels are above service levels, there is good
where target levels are below service levels, there is evil

A dual personality and the measure of good appear where there are several levels.