A second objection is that this reputational theory still doesn’t cover end-of-life effects: why are we worried at all about our reputation when death is near? (Why do we even worry more about our reputation in such cases?)
Because we—most people, at any rate—care about what happens after our death. Given that fact that we do care, “why do we care?” is a question to be answered with an explanation for this fact, not a rhetorical question suggesting that we obviously should not.
The “why are we worried” question here is precisely calling for an explanation of the fact that we are worried about our post-mortem reputation. It is not denying that fact, nor arguing that we shouldn’t be.
The best explanation I’ve seen so far is the one below from Randaly… we have evolved to care about post-mortem reputation, because of the possibility of vengeance against our family.
Because we—most people, at any rate—care about what happens after our death. Given that fact that we do care, “why do we care?” is a question to be answered with an explanation for this fact, not a rhetorical question suggesting that we obviously should not.
The “why are we worried” question here is precisely calling for an explanation of the fact that we are worried about our post-mortem reputation. It is not denying that fact, nor arguing that we shouldn’t be.
The best explanation I’ve seen so far is the one below from Randaly… we have evolved to care about post-mortem reputation, because of the possibility of vengeance against our family.