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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 The accumulation of life and pleasure, and the passive contemplation thereof, are not our only interests.

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

    Reasons For

    2 perspectives
    Reason for 1 of 2
    ?
    • 1.Hedonist theories (Bentham, early Mill) hold that all apparent non-hedonic interests are instrumentally reducible to pleasure and pain avoidance.
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    • 2.Active pursuits and forward-looking goals derive their motivational force entirely from the anticipated or realized pleasures they produce.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.If all non-hedonic interests are thus reducible, the claim that we have irreducibly non-hedonic interests is empirically unsubstantiated.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reason for 2 of 2
    ?
    • 1.Parfit's reductionist view of personal identity implies that future-directed goals may not constitute genuine ongoing interests of a persisting self.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.If there is no robust persisting self to bear active, forward-looking concerns, those concerns cannot be foundational to personal identity in the way the supporting argument assumes.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.We also have active, forward-looking goals and concerns.
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      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.For many of us, these active pursuits, and not passive interests, are central to our identities, our fundamental values and commitments.
      ?

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