If the only thing you care about is the volume of dopamine bouncing around your brain, eliminating all the dopamine (via non-existence) would presumably only maximize unhappiness.
If we’re talking about the chemistry of the brain, you also need to keep in mind the chemistry of unhappiness and pain. Cortisol, GABA, substance P, and CGRP. Technically, dopamine is not strictly a “happiness” chemical. It is also used for pain signals.
So non-existence would also remove those, thus reducing unhappiness.
Depriving people of their existence because you refuse to believe they can be happy on their own terms isn’t liberating, it is patronizing.
I never brought up liberation. Further, I do not believe in free will.
Denying existence to whole swaths of people on the grounds that you can’t conceive of them being happy is outright genocidal. Anti-natalism on these terms fundamentally just Yimby Eugenics
This is stepping into virtue ethics, and virtue ethics are nonsense. What you think of my personal moral worth isn’t what I’m interested in discussing.
If we’re talking about the chemistry of the brain, you also need to keep in mind the chemistry of unhappiness and pain.
Unhappiness and pain are tools the brain uses in order to avoid conditions the body finds intolerable. Taking away the sensation does not eliminate the harm. It only eliminates the ability to recognize its source.
So non-existence would also remove those
All non-existence does is eliminate agency. It does nothing to eliminate sources of harm.
I never brought up liberation.
You have, repeatedly. Liberation from pain. Liberation from emotion. Liberation from understanding.
This is stepping into virtue ethics, and virtue ethics are nonsense.
Thanks for proving my point.
What you think of my personal moral worth isn’t what I’m interested in discussing.
You’re arguing the personal moral worth of others. You could engage in a modicum of self-reflection.
Unhappiness and pain are tools the brain uses in order to avoid conditions the body finds intolerable. Taking away the sensation does not eliminate the harm. It only eliminates the ability to recognize its source.
OK, but if you aren’t “taking the sensation away” if it was never there to begin with. I’m still not clear on where this line in your argument is going.
All non-existence does is eliminate agency. It does nothing to eliminate sources of harm.
I don’t believe in free will. So agency isn’t really something that I see as intrinsically morally valuable, at least when we are discussing the ethics of existentialist philosophy.
Agency is an important moral consideration in interpersonal ethics and media representation, but that is not what we are discussing.
Thanks for proving my point.
What point?
You’re arguing the personal moral worth of others.
I’m arguing about the ethics of using the power to reproduce as having an unethical result. That’s not “personal moral worth”, its consequentialism.
You could engage in a modicum of self-reflection.
I do.
I’m not the specific subject of this conversation and I don’t find the prospect of discussing that with you worth while. The only reason you’d go that route in this discussion is if you are arguing in bad faith or want to be able to dismiss my assertions on the basis of my character without actually considering those assertions. Notice how I’ve never called you selfish or narcissistic for wanting a “mini me” or whatever.
Maybe its actually you who should do some self reflection and consider whether maybe you are protecting yourself from cognitive dissonance by undermining the character of the person you are arguing with.
OK, but if you aren’t “taking the sensation away” if it was never there to begin with.
Aren’t you the one talking about “the unborn” as though they do exist and are somehow harmed by being given corporeal form. I’m just working from your premise.
I don’t believe in free will.
Then this whole argument falls apart. You can’t be mad at people for procreating if they didn’t have control over it to begin with.
What I want is dictated by the neurons firing off and the various bio chemicals floating around in my brain. Which are all dictated by physical reality.
My will is not free from anything, I still want things. They are not mutually exclusive.
If we’re talking about the chemistry of the brain, you also need to keep in mind the chemistry of unhappiness and pain. Cortisol, GABA, substance P, and CGRP. Technically, dopamine is not strictly a “happiness” chemical. It is also used for pain signals.
So non-existence would also remove those, thus reducing unhappiness.
I never brought up liberation. Further, I do not believe in free will.
This is stepping into virtue ethics, and virtue ethics are nonsense. What you think of my personal moral worth isn’t what I’m interested in discussing.
Unhappiness and pain are tools the brain uses in order to avoid conditions the body finds intolerable. Taking away the sensation does not eliminate the harm. It only eliminates the ability to recognize its source.
All non-existence does is eliminate agency. It does nothing to eliminate sources of harm.
You have, repeatedly. Liberation from pain. Liberation from emotion. Liberation from understanding.
Thanks for proving my point.
You’re arguing the personal moral worth of others. You could engage in a modicum of self-reflection.
OK, but if you aren’t “taking the sensation away” if it was never there to begin with. I’m still not clear on where this line in your argument is going.
I don’t believe in free will. So agency isn’t really something that I see as intrinsically morally valuable, at least when we are discussing the ethics of existentialist philosophy.
Agency is an important moral consideration in interpersonal ethics and media representation, but that is not what we are discussing.
What point?
I’m arguing about the ethics of using the power to reproduce as having an unethical result. That’s not “personal moral worth”, its consequentialism.
I do.
I’m not the specific subject of this conversation and I don’t find the prospect of discussing that with you worth while. The only reason you’d go that route in this discussion is if you are arguing in bad faith or want to be able to dismiss my assertions on the basis of my character without actually considering those assertions. Notice how I’ve never called you selfish or narcissistic for wanting a “mini me” or whatever.
Maybe its actually you who should do some self reflection and consider whether maybe you are protecting yourself from cognitive dissonance by undermining the character of the person you are arguing with.
Aren’t you the one talking about “the unborn” as though they do exist and are somehow harmed by being given corporeal form. I’m just working from your premise.
Then this whole argument falls apart. You can’t be mad at people for procreating if they didn’t have control over it to begin with.
I can be mad at who ever I want regardless of my lack of a belief in free will. Emotions aren’t rational or dictated by rationality.
The rational part is that I can try to discourage them or convince others that being born sucks.
Only if you have free will
What I want is dictated by the neurons firing off and the various bio chemicals floating around in my brain. Which are all dictated by physical reality.
My will is not free from anything, I still want things. They are not mutually exclusive.
Then you’re not free to choose whether you procreate.