Re: Extropian views

From: Max M (maxm@maxmcorp.dk)
Date: Sun Sep 14 1997 - 12:03:00 MDT

Perry E. Metzger wrote:
I have NO obligation to someone dying in the street. Any appeals to
emotion you can make stating otherwise are all based on religious or
quasi-religious tenets, more or less, or based on the false appeal to
"what if you were that person". Well, you can argue that it might be
IN MY INTEREST to see a society where people are "helpful" (I didn't
say it would be true, but you can argue it) but you have no basis at
all for claiming any *obligation*.
Well you should study games theory a little closer. Especially the chapters about win win scenarios.
There is pretty good evidence that helping other people also is a help to yourself in the long run.  Try putting a simulation with two societies. One where the inhabitants are helping each other, and one where they don't. The results should be interresting.
It's true in the short run that there are no immediate bennefits from helping other people, but claiming that not helping has no effect on yourself, is like stating that there are no benefits to eating healthy. "Look Ma I'm eating chocolate now an I don't feel any worse."
 

MAX M 
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