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> If I believe that "it is good to reduce net human suffering so others can live fulfilling lives" I'm not sure what evidence there is to give to refute I thin
by placebo 6y ago
> If I believe that "it is good to reduce net human suffering so others can live fulfilling lives" I'm not sure what evidence there is to give to refute
I think that if an argument is clear, one can always think of counter-evidence or construct at least a hypothetical experiment which can test it.
Ultimately though, my (probably controversial) answer to increasingly abstract ethical questions would be that when the goal is to find what is True then reducing suffering (human or other) as well as other ethical endeavors becomes a necessary by-product.
- chownie 6y agoBeliefs don't have to be arguments though, they don't need to be thoughts you reasoned yourself into. I saw people in distress -> I thought "that doesn't look fun, I could try to minimize that" -> belief formed. I struggle to find a devil's advocate position for this let alone any utility in doing so.