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> Why is it smart to want to continue passing down your genes? What a great question, thanks for the thought provoking challenge. The best way I can engage wi

> Why is it smart to want to continue passing down your genes? What a great question, thanks for the thought provoking challenge. The best way I can engage with this is asking a question in return: is someone who crosses the street safely "smarter" than someone who wanders into traffic and dies? If we think the survivor is smarter, then we can ask your question in another way: "why is it smart to wish to live another day?" If we come up with a satisfactory answer here, we will get closer to answering your question too.

wander_homer 5y ago
> The best way I can engage with this is asking a question in return: is someone who crosses the street safely "smarter" than someone who wanders into traffic and dies? Well, given that wandering into traffic likely causes some sort of pain and is a terrible way to end a life, I'd say it's not a smart choice in most situations. If the goal for a person is to die, e.g. because they're in terrible pain, then there are usually smarter (more reliable, less painful, less harmful to others, ...) options available. But of course, there are likely situations, where crossing the street hastily is a smart choice, e.g. when you're being chased by something even more dangerous. Otherwise ... > If we think the survivor is smarter, then we can ask your question in another way: "why is it smart to wish to live another day?" You can only accumulate pleasure and good experiences if you stay alive. Hence staying alive is a smart choice if the chances of having good experiences is high enough and the chances of having lots of terrible experiences is low enough.
- chucksta 5y ago
  It's not the goal, it's the unavoidable outcome. How we get there is all that changes. How do you know pleasure and good experience only comes through life?
  - wander_homer 5y ago
    Because our brain stops working when we die.
lotsofpulp 5y ago
>The best way I can engage with this is asking a question in return: is someone who crosses the street safely "smarter" than someone who wanders into traffic and dies? Depends on the person's goals and risk tolerances. Directly addressing what was previously being talked about, my thoughts are that there is nothing smart or not smart about wanting pieces of your DNA to continue existing or not wanting pieces of your DNA to continue existing. It is simply a preference, like liking a certain color. However, if your goal is to maximize your power and/or ability to obtain resources/services, it may be smarter to have children, especially in certain parts of the world and especially for your old age. But that may not be the goal for everyone.

wander_homer 5y ago

> The best way I can engage with this is asking a question in return: is someone who crosses the street safely "smarter" than someone who wanders into traffic and dies? Well, given that wandering into traffic likely causes some sort of pain and is a terrible way to end a life, I'd say it's not a smart choice in most situations. If the goal for a person is to die, e.g. because they're in terrible pain, then there are usually smarter (more reliable, less painful, less harmful to others, ...) options available. But of course, there are likely situations, where crossing the street hastily is a smart choice, e.g. when you're being chased by something even more dangerous. Otherwise ... > If we think the survivor is smarter, then we can ask your question in another way: "why is it smart to wish to live another day?" You can only accumulate pleasure and good experiences if you stay alive. Hence staying alive is a smart choice if the chances of having good experiences is high enough and the chances of having lots of terrible experiences is low enough.

chucksta 5y ago
It's not the goal, it's the unavoidable outcome. How we get there is all that changes. How do you know pleasure and good experience only comes through life?
- wander_homer 5y ago
  Because our brain stops working when we die.

lotsofpulp 5y ago

>The best way I can engage with this is asking a question in return: is someone who crosses the street safely "smarter" than someone who wanders into traffic and dies? Depends on the person's goals and risk tolerances. Directly addressing what was previously being talked about, my thoughts are that there is nothing smart or not smart about wanting pieces of your DNA to continue existing or not wanting pieces of your DNA to continue existing. It is simply a preference, like liking a certain color. However, if your goal is to maximize your power and/or ability to obtain resources/services, it may be smarter to have children, especially in certain parts of the world and especially for your old age. But that may not be the goal for everyone.