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It is not the case that It is entirely reasonable not to want to come into existence earlier even though we want to live longer.
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Reasons For
2 perspectives
Reason for 1 of 2
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1.
Lucretius argued that prenatal non-existence and posthumous non-existence are symmetrical, and our equanimity about the former should extend to the latter.
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2.
Nagel's asymmetry claim presupposes that deprivation of future goods is worse than deprivation of past goods, but this requires an independent argument beyond mere modal possibility.
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3.
Without such an argument, the asymmetry reflects psychological bias rather than a rational normative distinction, undermining the claim that the asymmetric attitude is 'entirely reasonable.'
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Reason for 2 of 2
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1.
If personal identity is grounded in psychological continuity rather than biological origin, earlier instantiation of the same psychology would constitute the same person.
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2.
If the same person could have existed earlier under a different psychological continuity theory, then asymmetric indifference to earlier existence lacks metaphysical justification.
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Reasons Against
1 perspective
Reason against
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1.
It is metaphysically impossible for a person to have come into existence significantly earlier than she did.
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2.
It is possible for a person to have existed longer than she actually did.
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