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On 2015-09-10 01:29, William Flynn Wallace wrote:<br>
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<div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:comic sans
ms,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0);display:inline">Viewed
objectively, the decision to take others' lives without
their permission is the most unbelievable act of
arrogance I can imagine. I do wonder who would act if
they could push a button and end the world, or just
humanity.<br>
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If you are a certain sort of negative utilitarian ending the world
is an act of charity.<br>
<br>
If you sincerely think that reducing pain has the highest priority,
and think there is no way of stopping the carnage that is nature,
then extinguishing life is the best solution. And yes, I have met
people who responded 'yes' to the thought experiment of having an
end-of-the-world button.<br>
<br>
Arrogant? Maybe. Sensible people realize that we have moral
uncertainty and might be able to make things better eventually. But
some people have thought fairly deeply about it, and arrive at
extinction as an act of altruism. <br>
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<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Anders Sandberg
Future of Humanity Institute
Oxford Martin School
Oxford University</pre>
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