5 ms·
The other end of the spectrum is debtors' prisons, which are such a terrible idea for multiple reasons that we've mostly gotten rid of them (except for situatio
by klipt 10y ago
The other end of the spectrum is debtors' prisons, which are such a terrible idea for multiple reasons that we've mostly gotten rid of them (except for situations like child support debt where self righteous indignation overrides good policy).
- Terr_ 10y agoFrom a ruthlessly clinical evolutionary game-theory perspective... It's also that someone who spreads their genes by creating a child is obtaining a kind of "asset" for themselves, one which society can't transfer and won't morally destroy in retribution. If A and B both invest in, say, a house, and B disappears leaving debts behind, at least A can sell the house and B isn't getting any ongoing utility from it.
- klipt 10y agoIf that were the issue we'd throw parents who give their kids up for adoption in debtors' prisons too.
- deleted 10y ago[deleted]
- cmdrfred 10y agoThere is value in spreading genes, but also in spreading memes. The biological patents give the former, the adoptive parents give the latter. As this is an agreement that all parties consent to and it has consideration for all involved and say its a valid system.
- zepto 10y agoAssets provide return on investment. Children do not. Using this term just muddies the water.
- gertef 10y agoThe only investment a human can make is in their genetic future. Everything else (money, power) is in service of that.
- jpttsn 10y agoYou might as well say the only investment any human can make is in producing excess heat in the universe.
- pharrlax 10y agoTechnically, producing excess heat is the only thing we ever do
- zepto 10y agoIf that were true, men who donated to sperm banks would feel like their lives were complete.
- jacobush 10y agoWhy?
- EliRivers 10y agoI'm not convinced. I make investments in the hope that I will end up getting back from it more than I started with; ideally by enough of a margin to cover the time I had to wait. My genetic future isn't any kind of investment. I'm never seeing any return on that.
- Firadeoclus 10y agoYour "genetic future" immediately gets diluted and is barely recognizable after a few generations. A memetic legacy can last much longer.