The counterargument also does not work because it is not central. The negative X phenomenon can persist even if death continues. Lack of progress, eternal dictatorship, overpopulation and degradation are possible in societies where people have short life expectancy.
This counter-counterargument doesn’t work. Just because phenomenon X is possible under both scenarios doesn’t mean it’s equally likely or as difficult to avoid.
(Note: I think that death is bad. My point is about a specific line of reasoning.)
If one say: “death is bad, but it is more likely to prevent dictatorships”, he still say that the death is bad. But he also say that preventing dictators has higher utility than death, so he doesn’t say that the death is “absolutely” bad.
But now it is a technical problem: how to make the world where both conditions are satisfied.
Also, is there even any evidence for this assertion? If we stipulate that absolutist monarchies are about as bad as a dictatorship then how did that assertion work out historically? Over the last 10′000 years when lifespans were much shorter dictatorships and related systems flourished. The ascent of democracy has paralleled an increase in lifespans. Correlation does not imply causation, but at least it makes it more likely, whereas the dictator argument is just speculation as far as I can tell.
This counter-counterargument doesn’t work. Just because phenomenon X is possible under both scenarios doesn’t mean it’s equally likely or as difficult to avoid.
(Note: I think that death is bad. My point is about a specific line of reasoning.)
If one say: “death is bad, but it is more likely to prevent dictatorships”, he still say that the death is bad. But he also say that preventing dictators has higher utility than death, so he doesn’t say that the death is “absolutely” bad.
But now it is a technical problem: how to make the world where both conditions are satisfied.
Also, is there even any evidence for this assertion? If we stipulate that absolutist monarchies are about as bad as a dictatorship then how did that assertion work out historically? Over the last 10′000 years when lifespans were much shorter dictatorships and related systems flourished. The ascent of democracy has paralleled an increase in lifespans. Correlation does not imply causation, but at least it makes it more likely, whereas the dictator argument is just speculation as far as I can tell.