“How it feels talking to a hedonistic utilitarian” by Caleb Biddulph

LessWrong (30+ Karma) · Oct 17, 2026 · 8m

Epicurean status: strawman, kind of.

Gourmet George: Yum! This chocolate is so sweet and tasty.

Sweet Caroline: Yeah, it's pretty good. And someday in the glorious hyperculinary future, we’ll figure out how to make it even sweeter!

GG: I think this chocolate is sweet enough, actually.

SC: Huh? But you like sweetness, don’t you?

GG: Sure…

SC: Well, then we’re in agreement. We should maximize the sweetness of this chocolate.

GG: I don’t want my chocolate to be maximally sweet, though.

SC: But you’d be “sweeter on” that chocolate if it were sweeter. By definition!

GG: I’d be “sweeter on” the…