@dangrsmind

is being ethical something that can be quantified and measured?

In theory yes, in practice, sorta.

Being ethical is simply the act of reducing suffering and maximizing happiness. Since these are just chemical states in ones mind it could, in theory, be quantified if you could scan everyone brain effected. In practice we cant do that so we have to observe people to infer their happiness. But yes it is objective in that sense.

The bigger issue is moral intent vs moral action, both have their problems… Moral intent doesnt matter here much if it doesnt produce moral action, so we dont even need to think much on that as it isnt relevant here. Moral action on the other hand could be qualntified as said easrlier but even if we could scan brains part of the problem is you’d have to quantify the long term effect and compare to what that effect would be if you did nothing. Since we dont have time machines we cant provide an actual comparison anyway.

That said subjectively it can be infered.

I’m thinking of Rice’s Theorem which many people in the AGI community like to discount but no one has ever convinced me about that.

Rice’s theorem is valid.

Merry Christmas, I haven’t even started drinking yet.

Merry Christmas to you too, have a wonderful one!