Thank Goodness that Argument is Over: Explaining the Temporal Value Asymmetry

摘要: Our valuations of goods and harms vary in systematic ways with our temporal perspective on them. We are not temporally neutral — indifferent about the timing even if, as some have suggested (e.g., Sidgwick 1878, Brink 2011), there reasons we should be. preferences display at least two markedly asymmetric features. As a first approximation, all else being equal, (1) prefer distant future pain (proximal pleasure) to proximal (distant pleasure), (2) past (future (past pleasure). Call discounting asymmetry second value asymmetry. Examples might include skipping flu shot get coffee or saving adequately for retirement. be caring little very painful headache but going well out one’s way avoid mildly uncomfortable headache. The is between types events, distant, whereas events. Economists psychologists interested departures from dynamical consistency among studied extensively. This literature describes rich mathematical empirical detail comments its relevance personal, social political decisions drug addiction, global warming). also filled models drawn psychology, economics evolutionary theory that seek only characterize phenomenon provide deeper explanation it. Interest asymmetry, by contrast, has generally been confined philosophers. Rather than seeking describe explain any detail, philosophical discussions tend take their starting point simply exists attempt work implications issues traditional interest. That case,