Consequentialism/Utiliarianism

Reynolds’ choice to be a “lover of humanity” and his plan to create a global network of influence to bring worldwide prosperity was made by wanting to become a savior of humanity. He wanted to bring happiness and prosperity to the world at the expense of a few sacrifices. He knows that both Leon and he are in a higher realm or higher level of intelligence than normal humans. He believes that “As long as they can still comprehend their affairs, they cannot ignore them (Chiang, 2016).”

Reynolds believed that humanity was worth saving because the gestalt of a planetary society inspired him. While humanity was wretched, he saw that they had a hidden beauty that he felt could draw out by expanding his influence globally. He knows that his plans will make him look like a tyrant to the rest of humanity, but he still holds love for them and wants to become their savior.

I would not know how even to begin to make that choice. Many factors influence our decision-making processes, and choosing whether or not to abandon humanity for self-interest is a hard decision. Using one’s enhanced intelligence for self-interest is easy to do as it is human nature to care about oneself before others in a self-preservation sense. Reynolds chose to go above that and care about others’ happiness and prosperity.

I believe that the reason behind Reynolds’ decision was his experiences after gaining this enhanced intelligence from “Hormone K.” He had similar experiences as Leon. However, He saw a hidden beauty that is the gestalt of our planetary society. He sees his newly acquired intelligence as a means to end to help others. He wants to bring humanity to new heights and create global prosperity and happiness through his influence.

A utilitarian would agree with Reynolds’ decision because he plans to create world prosperity. By creating a worldwide network of influence, he would be able to bring happiness and prosperity to the world’s masses. Part of Reynolds’ plan is to give a few of his agents heightened intelligence to spread his influence worldwide, but he also knows that some may conspire against him. Reynolds knew that “His plan cannot be implemented without more deaths: those of normal humans, by strategic necessity, and those of a few enhanced assistants of his, whose temptation by greater heights would interfere (Chiang, 2016).” He knew that his plan for creating worldwide prosperity would require some sacrifices, and a utilitarian would agree that sacrificing a few people for worldwide prosperity is worth the sacrifice. I believe that Reynolds would find Leon’s perspective small or meaningless because Leon’s views are too skewed and self-focused. As Leon’s intelligence grew, his views toward ordinary people began to change, and he viewed them as lesser beings and chose to focus on his self-interests. Reynolds most likely went through similar experiences as Leon did initially but eventually found beauty and worth in humanity.