Mati_Roy answers What ethical thought experiments can be reversed?

[Mati_Roy]

The Non-identity problem

Original:

1. We only care about things if they are bad/​good for someone

2. Using a lot of resources isn’t bad for people in the future, it just changes who lives in the future

3. Therefore we don’t mind that people in the future are having a bad time because of our consumption

Reversed:

1. We care that people in the future are having a bad time because of our consumption

2. Consuming isn’t bad for specific people in the future, it just changes who lives in the future

3. Therefore we don’t only care about thing if they are bad/​good* for someone, but also about what kind of lives we bring into existence