> The OP believes that there exists an idea of goodness extending beyond oneself, relating to joining society and acting. Perhaps what we, as members of society

> The OP believes that there exists an idea of goodness extending beyond oneself, relating to joining society and acting. Perhaps what we, as members of society, want is not a happy life, but a meaningful life[1]. > (...) in order to ever be in a position where they can join society and use them for good But you are still judging the person as NT, which seems strange to me especially as you mentioned in previous comment you are autistic as well (unless I've read that incorrectly.) You should know in the first place that it is not up to you or me to judge the meaning of someones life, and especially autistic life. I said before that autistic brain works differently and this still applies. It works so differently that NT/ND comparison doesn't make any sense. What if they don't want to be a member of the society? What if many of them care about society no more than about weather the other day? [1] You might be unaware, but lot of autistic people feel pride in how different they are, how autism shaped their lives and they wouldn't switch back to be NT if you gave them such option. That being said I am not stating that low autistic people never seek for an interaction, understanding or just thoughts sharing. I am just stating that there is such a possibility. Even if they do, there is not much NT society can do fulfill their needs. > He is the one we pity, though of course he does not mind his condition. (...) If we did not pity him then, why pity him now; in any case, who is there to pity? The intelligent adult has disappeared and for a creature like the one before us (...) This. Exactly this. "We", "pity" and "creature." Author is happily measuring above mentioned person by his own ruler, his and the society he lives in (and stays in this manner throughout the essay.) It didn't occurred to him, or he decided to ignore the fact, that the subject is completely different person, now. It would be impossible to perceive the world as the subject so we have to extrapolate. But by doing so we must be aware that our own judgements does not apply anymore. We must throw away our pity. Do not try to be emphatic because you have no slightest idea how the subject feels. 1: https://www.reddit.com/r/aspergers/comments/7jw22y/i_dont_miss_people/ https://www.reddit.com/r/aspergers/comments/7jw22y/i_dont_mi... Edit: Changed "normal" to "NT" in one place. Overall point stays the same.