If all the elephants on Earth die, but elephants still exist in an alternate universe, it is not correct to say that “the elephant species yet survives”. Rather, the appropriate description would be “the elephant species has gone extinct; matters may, however (in this as in other things), be different in some alternate universe”.
I don’t think everyone who agrees with the OP would agree with this statement. At least I do not. Though this feels more like arguing definitions in a way that is less likely to result in much productive discourse.
Well, as far as the prevalence of my view goes, I can’t speak to that. But I do not think this is a matter of arguing definitions—rather, it’s a real difference in values. Lanrian’s comment elsethread mentions one important category of difference here.
Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to imply that there isn’t a real difference here. I was just commenting on the specific statement “the appropriate description would be” which does seem primarily to be a statement about wording, and not about ethics.
I don’t think everyone who agrees with the OP would agree with this statement. At least I do not. Though this feels more like arguing definitions in a way that is less likely to result in much productive discourse.
Well, as far as the prevalence of my view goes, I can’t speak to that. But I do not think this is a matter of arguing definitions—rather, it’s a real difference in values. Lanrian’s comment elsethread mentions one important category of difference here.
Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to imply that there isn’t a real difference here. I was just commenting on the specific statement “the appropriate description would be” which does seem primarily to be a statement about wording, and not about ethics.