What do you think of the line; 'First of all, nonexistent people have no moral standing. (There are an infinite number of nonexistent people out there, and you don’t notice them complaining, do you?)'?
Do you agree with it? Does this mean we have no obligations to future generations?
I don't think we should recognise any obligation to bring nonexistent people into existence.
It's a separate question whether we recognise an obligation to make sure that whatever people do inevitably come into existence do so in environments where they probably won't be miserable.
Inevitably? And do we have a number that will inevitably exist? A discount rate with which to measure their well-being against ours?
My view of this has always been that parents, and want to be parents, are so invested in their offspring, and their offspring's offspring, that our policies are already suitably weighted in their favour and this* problem is a non-problem.
In fact, if it were a real concern we'd be much more vocal and forceful about the terrible conditions the vast majority of actual children are born into today.
What do you think of the line;
ReplyDelete'First of all, nonexistent people have no moral standing. (There are an infinite number of nonexistent people out there, and you don’t notice them complaining, do you?)'?
Do you agree with it? Does this mean we have no obligations to future generations?
If we're going to give non-existent creatures any influence over our decision then who's going to speak up for the unicorns, the dragons or the gods?
ReplyDeleteI don't think we should recognise any obligation to bring nonexistent people into existence.
ReplyDeleteIt's a separate question whether we recognise an obligation to make sure that whatever people do inevitably come into existence do so in environments where they probably won't be miserable.
"...inevitably come into existence...
ReplyDeleteInevitably? And do we have a number that will inevitably exist? A discount rate with which to measure their well-being against ours?
My view of this has always been that parents, and want to be parents, are so invested in their offspring, and their offspring's offspring, that our policies are already suitably weighted in their favour and this* problem is a non-problem.
In fact, if it were a real concern we'd be much more vocal and forceful about the terrible conditions the vast majority of actual children are born into today.
*miserable environment for future generations.