[extropy-chat] Transhumanist Ethics

Mike Lorrey mlorrey at yahoo.com
Mon Jun 28 21:30:52 UTC 2004


--- "Robert J. Bradbury" <bradbury at aeiveos.com> wrote:> 
> My conclusion -- transhumanistic ethics needs to seriously
> look at this whole "fundamental right to life" question.
> Because in triage situations you have to make decisions
> as to precisely who is worth saving.

I learned about triage as a ski patroller and ski instructor, taking
emergency responder training.

As a ski patroller, I didn't get to choose who had a better right to
live based on how well they skied, how attractive they were in their
ski suit, or how much money they spent on their ski equipment. 

I didn't even have a right to deny care to whoever was at fault in a
ski accident. Even bad skiers can become better ones, and pay for the
damage along the way. Redemption is open to all.

Nor was it proper to choose who was going to live and die until AFTER a
disaster or accident occured.

> 
> Now of course many of you will perhaps argue, "but we
> aren't physicians or military planners -- we don't
> have to make triage based decisions that arise from
> huge accidents (e.g. 911) or military conflicts.
> Ca-ca.  One makes those decisions all the time.
> Reduce government support for health care to the
> point where people have to wait months for operations --
> people are going to die.  Fail to legislate cryonics as
> a right everyone should have -- people are going to die.
> Fail to provide sufficient education that people can uplift
> themselves in changing economic times -- people are going
> to die.  Allow financial institutions to behave in ways
> that destroy the savings of people so they can't afford
> to pay for medical care -- people are going to die.
> Insurance companies failing to pay for certain medical
> procedures -- people are going to die.  Fail to eliminate
> belief systems that can produce people willing to commit
> suicide bombings or kidnappings and public beheadings --
> people are going to die.  Fail to even write letters to
> your government condemning the situation in Sudan/Darfur --
> people are going to die.

What you describe, however, is that society is practicing triage on the
human race all the time, anonymously, pitilessly, and quite often
without remorse. You need to package your arguments so as to oppose
such immoral action. It is THEY who are the fascists, the islamists,
the luddites, the socialists, the xian fundies. They DON'T HAVE THE
RIGHT to do what they are doing. When they initiate force, they need to
be opposed, whoever they are.

=====
Mike Lorrey
Chairman, Free Town Land Development
"Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom.
It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves."
                                         -William Pitt (1759-1806) 
Blog: http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=Sadomikeyism


		
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