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    Carmelics

    A reasoning platform. Break down any belief into clear reasons, explore both sides, and weigh the evidence honestly.

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    LoyalLoyalJusticeJustice
    Made withinDC&Austin
    Statements
    321,452
    Perspectives
    108,905
    Topics
    42
    Home/Original/inverse
    See Original
    Inverse View

    It is not the case that Bringing a person into existence can be justified even though it involves imposing harms on that person, because existence is a greater good that outweighs those harms.

    ?Set your confidence on the premises below to see your aggregate.

    Reasons For

    2 perspectives
    Reason for 1 of 2
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    • 1.Non-identity prevents comparing existence to non-existence: the harmed person in existence is not the same individual who would exist without the harm.
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    • 2.The life-saving analogy fails because the broken leg victim exists prior to and independent of the harm-causing act, unlike the person brought into existence.
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    • 3.Without a coherent pre-existing subject who is made better off, 'existence as a greater good' cannot function as a justificatory counterweight to imposed harms.
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    Reason for 2 of 2
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    • 1.Benatar's asymmetry argument holds that the absence of pain is good even when there is no subject to enjoy that absence, while the absence of pleasure is only bad if someone is deprived of it.
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    • 2.If this asymmetry obtains, then the harms imposed by bringing a person into existence cannot be offset by goods, because non-existence already avoids those harms without loss to any actual subject.
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    • 3.A justification that appeals to existence as a net good therefore begs the question by assuming a symmetric weighing that the asymmetry thesis directly denies.
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    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
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    • 1.An evil or harm can be justified when it is a necessary condition of a greater good.
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    • 2.Saving a person's life justifies breaking a leg as a necessary condition of that greater good.
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    • 3.Bringing a life into existence is a greater good that can similarly justify incidental harms.
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    Next step

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    Strongest counterpoint
    Explore the most compelling reason on the other side.