[extropy-chat] Nihilism

[Stathis Papaioannou]

On 3/3/07, citta437 at aol.com <citta437 at aol.com> wrote:


> ""Stuart LaForge
> alt email: stuart"AT"ucla.edu
>
> "Now what I contend is that my body is my own, at least I have always
> so
> regarded it. If I do harm through my experimenting with it, it is I who
> suffers,
> not the state." -Mark Twain
> ______________
>
> Hi, Stuart, I am one of Mark Twain's fan so to speak but the above
> quote sounds so unlike his wisdom/the understanding of the human
> behavior. Everyone suffers in this world due to such ignorance
> {nihilistic thought/beliefs}. When you harm yourself by your behavior,
> you and others suffer too.


The quote addresses the question of whether the state should legislate
against, for example, drug abuse. There is perhaps a role for this if the
behaviour directly harms others, e.g. if someone is intoxicated and driving
or in charge of children, but not otherwise. This does not mean there is
nothing wrong with harming yourself,  just that the state should keep its
nose out of your private business.

Stathis Papaioannou
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