[ExI] Striving for Objectivity Across Different Cultures

[Samantha Atkins]

On Aug 21, 2008, at 12:03 PM, Anne Corwin wrote:

> --- On Thu, 8/21/08, Damien Broderick <thespike at satx.rr.com> wrote:
>
>> In other words, most opponents will *not* regard healthy
>> life as an
>> unconditional good. And they have their reasons for this
>> that can't
>> be budged just by saying, "Yes, but look, life is
>> better than death!"
>> Not if death is the pathway to heaven, or another chance to
>> start
>> fresh, or blessed surcease.
>>
>> Damien Broderick
>
>
> Note as well that this kind of attitude isn't unique to the  
> explicitly religious. I've encountered people with decidedly secular  
> worldviews who see human death as important for the sake of  
> "furthering evolution".  That is, we all need to die by a certain  
> time or else we risk hindering the natural emergence of a  
> "superhuman" species at some point off in the distant future.

Does the argument go nowhere with them that we are more likely to get  
the "superhuman" if humans don't decline starting in a mere 40-50  
years so we are always starting over?  Or do they think that only  
"natural" evolution untouched by oh so unnatural human intelligence is  
the only way we can ever arrive at the "superhuman"?


- samantha