X-Spam-Status: No, score=-2.6 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_00,SPF_HELO_PASS autolearn=unavailable version=3.2.0-r431796 Sender: -2.6 (spamval) -- NONE Return-Path: Received: from newman.eecs.umich.edu (newman.eecs.umich.edu [141.213.4.11]) by boston.eecs.umich.edu (8.12.10/8.13.0) with ESMTP id k9SHUHnw028675 (version=TLSv1/SSLv3 cipher=DHE-RSA-AES256-SHA bits=256 verify=FAIL) for ; Sat, 28 Oct 2006 13:30:18 -0400 Received: from workinggirl.mr.itd.umich.edu (workinggirl.mr.itd.umich.edu [141.211.93.143]) by newman.eecs.umich.edu (8.13.8/8.13.6) with ESMTP id k9SHUFdg022165; Sat, 28 Oct 2006 13:30:15 -0400 Received: FROM newman.eecs.umich.edu (newman.eecs.umich.edu [141.213.4.11]) BY workinggirl.mr.itd.umich.edu ID 454393A4.7723B.21378 ; 28 Oct 2006 13:30:12 -0400 Received: from boston.eecs.umich.edu (boston.eecs.umich.edu [141.213.4.61]) by newman.eecs.umich.edu (8.13.8/8.13.6) with ESMTP id k9SHUA0J022128 (version=TLSv1/SSLv3 cipher=DHE-RSA-AES256-SHA bits=256 verify=FAIL) for ; Sat, 28 Oct 2006 13:30:10 -0400 Received: from boston.eecs.umich.edu (localhost.eecs.umich.edu [127.0.0.1]) by boston.eecs.umich.edu (8.12.10/8.13.0) with ESMTP id k9SHU9nw028660 (version=TLSv1/SSLv3 cipher=DHE-RSA-AES256-SHA bits=256 verify=NO) for ; Sat, 28 Oct 2006 13:30:10 -0400 Received: from localhost (dreeves Æ localhost) by boston.eecs.umich.edu (8.12.10/8.12.9/Submit) with ESMTP id k9SHU9VI028657 for ; Sat, 28 Oct 2006 13:30:09 -0400 X-Authentication-Warning: boston.eecs.umich.edu: dreeves owned process doing -bs X-X-Sender: dreeves Æ boston.eecs.umich.edu Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.2.0-r431796 (2006-08-16) on newman.eecs.umich.edu X-Virus-Scan: : UVSCAN at UoM/EECS X-Virus-Scan: : UVSCAN at UoM/EECS Date: Sat, 28 Oct 2006 13:30:08 -0400 (EDT) To: improvetheworld Æ umich.edu From: Daniel Reeves Subject: social welfare + fairness + knowledge Status: RO X-Status: X-Keywords: X-UID: 824 Based on off-line discussion with my grandfather, I propose that there are only three fundamental principles worth fighting for in human society: 1. Social Welfare 2. Fairness 3. The Search for Knowledge (This started with an argument about the parental retort "who says life's supposed to be fair?") (1 and 2 are distinct because if we're all equally miserable, that's fair but not welfare maximizing. Likewise, of the methods for dividing a cake, for example, the method of "I get all of it" maximizes the sum of our utilities, but we nonetheless prefer splitting it in half.) Is there a number 4? -- http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/dreeves - - search://"Daniel Reeves"