Most adults don’t have traits I’d want a “person” to have. At least with babies there is a chance they’ll turn out as worthwhile people.
Adults have a small chance of acquiring those traits too. Due to selection effects adults that don’t have traits have a much lower probability than a fresh new baby of turning out this way.
In a few decades genetic technology and better psychology and sociology may let us make decent probabilistic predictions about how they will turn out as adults. Are you ok with babies with very low probabilities of getting such traits being killed?
Adults have a small chance of acquiring those traits too. Due to selection effects adults that don’t have traits have a much lower probability than a fresh new baby of turning out this way.
As well as, of course, as having far less malleable minds that have yet to crystallize the habits their upbringing gives them.
Are you ok with babies with very low probabilities of getting such traits being killed?
Far less averse, particularly in an environment where negative externalities cannot be easily prevented. Mind you I would still oppose legalization of killing people (whether babies or adults) just because they are Jerks. Not because of the value of the Jerks themselves (which is offset by their effects on others) but because it isn’t just Jerks that would be killed. I don’t want other people to have the right to choose who lives and who dies and I’m willing to waive that right myself by way of cooperation in order to see it happen.
I’m not sure why this is getting down voted. “Person” is basically LW speak for “particular kind of machine that has value to me in of itself”. I don’t see any good reason why I personally should value all people equally. I can see some instrumental value in living in a society that makes rules that operate on this principle.
But generally I do not love my enemies and neighbours like myself. I’m sorry, I guess that’s not very Christian of me. ;)
Most adults don’t have traits I’d want a “person” to have. At least with babies there is a chance they’ll turn out as worthwhile people.
Adults have a small chance of acquiring those traits too. Due to selection effects adults that don’t have traits have a much lower probability than a fresh new baby of turning out this way.
In a few decades genetic technology and better psychology and sociology may let us make decent probabilistic predictions about how they will turn out as adults. Are you ok with babies with very low probabilities of getting such traits being killed?
As well as, of course, as having far less malleable minds that have yet to crystallize the habits their upbringing gives them.
Far less averse, particularly in an environment where negative externalities cannot be easily prevented. Mind you I would still oppose legalization of killing people (whether babies or adults) just because they are Jerks. Not because of the value of the Jerks themselves (which is offset by their effects on others) but because it isn’t just Jerks that would be killed. I don’t want other people to have the right to choose who lives and who dies and I’m willing to waive that right myself by way of cooperation in order to see it happen.
I’m not sure why this is getting down voted. “Person” is basically LW speak for “particular kind of machine that has value to me in of itself”. I don’t see any good reason why I personally should value all people equally. I can see some instrumental value in living in a society that makes rules that operate on this principle.
But generally I do not love my enemies and neighbours like myself. I’m sorry, I guess that’s not very Christian of me. ;)