RE: Terror and pity

From: Lee Corbin (lcorbin@tsoft.com)
Date: Sat Jan 04 2003 - 01:31:06 MST


Russell writes

> Lee Corbin wrote:
>
> If ">" is a preference relation, then
>
> normal > abnormal > null
>
> Yes, I think this is an excellent way of putting it, and
> one that immediately brings to mind the question: Is this
> relation best examined from an objective (as Eugen and
> Michael Butler seem to suggest) or a subjective (Lee and
> Jonathan's take) point of reference? Or perhaps from some
> satisfactory blend of the two:
>
> Subjective---------F---------Objective (con - pro)
>
> Where F is a hypothetical fulcrum/balance between the
> subjective i.e. ("yes, I think my life's been worthwhile")
> and a democratically determined objective... i.e. ("these
> fucking defective clones are costing us a fortune to treat
> and/or repair"...

Good suggestion and analysis, but most people I respect
(E. O. Wilson being an exception) recognize the is/ought
barrier, and that values must remain subjective.

Preferences are values, and so I don't see how objectivity
can be introduced. Even if "these clones are costing us
a fortune", just as "these Alzheimer patients are costing
us a fortune", some would argue---based on their values---
that it is fitting and right that society foot the bill for
such costs. How can anything be objectively undesirable?

> I have to say I'm with Shermer in saying - let's run the
> experiment.

Damn right.

> On another track, I seriously think some cryonics organization
> (Alcor?) ought to consider the costs vs. benefits of publicly
> announcing that clone Eve shall receive a gratis suspension if
> things should go tragically wrong, or she reaches an age where
> suicide becomes a conceptual and desirable option.

Ah, I hope that you're wrong and that they have not over-estimated
the public. I cannot see how anyone could possibly object to
trying to save a defective clone so that it could maybe be
repaired later, but then I am on this list, where a lot of us
cannot see how people can be so [deleted].

> And wouldn't that cause an ethical firestorm if a clone
> should one day *demand* the right to an assisted "suicide"
> in order to obtain a very high quality suspension.

Fine. Perhaps the more ethical firestorms we get
right now, the sooner people will abandon their
outmoded worldviews.

Lee



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