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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
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    Inverse View

    It is not the case that It is rational to deplore death more than we deplore our not having always existed.

    ?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.Lucretius argued that prenatal non-existence and posthumous non-existence are metaphysically symmetrical states of deprivation.
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      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.If the two states are symmetrical deprivations, then a bias favoring future goods is a mere psychological contingency, not a rational norm.
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    • 3.A mere psychological contingency cannot ground a normative claim about what it is rational to deplore more.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reason for 2 of 2
    ?
    • 1.Epicurus held that death is not bad for the one who dies because there is no subject remaining to be harmed by the deprivation.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.If the deprivation account of death's badness fails because there is no surviving subject, then death and prenatal non-existence are equally non-harmful, collapsing the asymmetry Parfit's argument requires.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.We have a far-reaching bias toward preferring that good things be in our future and bad things be in our past.
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      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.If we take this bias for granted, it is better for us to have goods in the future than in the past.
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      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.Death deprives us of good things in the future, whereas not having always existed does not deprive us of future goods.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

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    Explore the most compelling reason on the other side.