Gallopin's Mistakes

Abstract

I argue, contrary to Gallopin, that the HVP, Hartman’s axiom of value, and other aspects of formal axiology like the hierarchy of value can and should be construc- tively separated from transfinite math and set theory. Applying transfinite math in axiology presupposes the absurd claim that real people can think an infinite number of thoughts, and Gallopin says nothing to show that we can. Like Hartman himself, Gallopin just confuses real people with theoretically constructed people. Transfinite math in axiology also generates ridiculous anomalies, for example, that killing six million people is no worse than killing only one person. Only Gallopin’s systemic “black or white” mentality demands either transfinite math or nothing at all, but clearly there are alternatives. Gallopin’s claim that I repudiate all conceptual con- structs is absolutely false. And people don’t expect mass murderers to be executed more than once, not because they intuitively accept transfinite math, but because they have enough good common sense to know that no one can die more than once.