Thanks for your thoughts, stranger. My comments are a reflection on the outside world. My own philosophy is very different. Our (western) society is built on

Thanks for your thoughts, stranger. My comments are a reflection on the outside world. My own philosophy is very different. Our (western) society is built on the premise of avoiding pain at all costs - even if it means exporting it to other countries or species. That's why I'm saying that people will choose pleasure over pain - not just because it's convenient, but because we're constantly conditioned to do that - take the pill, pain will go away. So I agree with Huxley - a society based on offering unlimited pleasure is even more insidious than a totalitarian state based on violence described in 1984. At least in a totalitarian state you can rebel... --- The idea about the horses really took me by surprise - I haven't thought about that. -- My personal belief is that "rebirth" is only possible by passing through the gates of suffering. By "rebirth" I mean "new, changed, evolved self" , rather then physical reincarnation. Suffering is a necessary ingredient for stepping onto the next level of understanding. So I respect it and I accept it when it's unavoidable, although it's never easy. There's the idea that "suffering and pain" are what makes us "feel alive", but if examined under a microscope, then the following can be observed: Life is the process of expending energy in order to avoid suffering and pain and optionally experience "pleasure". To drift even further, I'd note that True human-like "AI" will only be possible when the concepts of pain, suffering and pleasure and love are somehow implemented into the AI's "brain".. But to do that we'll have to somehow convince it that it's mortal.