Fanaticism and Incomparability

Abstract

In this chapter, we discuss two further problems that face accounts of decision-making under moral uncertainty, and are particularly pressing for theories that involve maximizing expected choice worthiness. First, the fanaticism problem—that the expected choice worthiness of options might be primarily determined by tiny credences in theories that posit huge amounts of value. Second, the infectious incomparability problem—that any credence in theories with radical incomparability might render the expected choice worthiness of almost every option undefined. We argue that both problems can be overcome. The fanaticism problem is a problem for decision-making under uncertainty in general, not just for decision-making in the face of moral uncertainty. The infectious incomparability problem requires an account of decision-making in the face of both moral uncertainty and incomparability. We suggest one possible account.