I propose that the ultimate terminal value of every rational, compassionate human is to minimize suffering.
I disagree. I’ll take suffering rather than death any day, thank-you-very-much.
Furthermore, I have reason to believe that, if I were offered the opportunity to instantaneously and painlessly wipe out all life in the universe, many compassionate humans would support my decision not to do so, despite all the suffering which is thereby allowed to continue.
You think you’re disagreeing with me, but you’re not; I would say that for you, death would be a kind of suffering—the very worst kind, even.
I would also count the “wipe out all life” scenario as an extreme form of suffering. Anyone with any compassion would suffer in the mere knowledge that it was going to happen.
If you’re going to define suffering as ‘whatever we don’t like,’ including the possibility that it’s different for everyone, then I agree with your assertion but question it’s usefulness.
I disagree. I’ll take suffering rather than death any day, thank-you-very-much.
Furthermore, I have reason to believe that, if I were offered the opportunity to instantaneously and painlessly wipe out all life in the universe, many compassionate humans would support my decision not to do so, despite all the suffering which is thereby allowed to continue.
You think you’re disagreeing with me, but you’re not; I would say that for you, death would be a kind of suffering—the very worst kind, even.
I would also count the “wipe out all life” scenario as an extreme form of suffering. Anyone with any compassion would suffer in the mere knowledge that it was going to happen.
If you’re going to define suffering as ‘whatever we don’t like,’ including the possibility that it’s different for everyone, then I agree with your assertion but question it’s usefulness.
It’s not what “we”—the people making the decision or taking the action—don’t like; it’s what those affected by the action don’t like.