3 ms·

Not taking care of a formerly productive injured person who might recover would be profoundly stupid, if you have the food for it and some expectation they migh

Not taking care of a formerly productive injured person who might recover would be profoundly stupid, if you have the food for it and some expectation they might be productive again or a superior ability to direct those who might be productive.

crawfordcomeaux 1y ago
Not taking care of a wise injured person who might recover & help guide others, teach children, care for children, help heal, reveal spiritual teachings, and otherwise be human would be profoundly stupid. Judging who to care for based solely on productivity or ability to direct others would also be profoundly stupid....this strategy sounds like middle-management.
- deleted 1y ago
  [deleted]
- mothballed 1y ago
  Strawman
- n4r9 1y ago
  Surely emotions and morale are worth considering as well. Even if someone is unproductive and stupid, but friendly and well-liked, then their death would impact everyone's productivity for some time.
  - crawfordcomeaux 1y ago
    Exactly. Every being has intrinsic value. A pure productivity perspective is rooted in dehumanization and a reductive take on what it means to live/survive/thrive.
cindyllm 1y ago
[dead]
bambax 1y ago
Compassion exists and isn't just driven by self-interest or self-preservation.
- mothballed 1y ago
  Sure, but I'm not claiming that. I'm only claiming it'd be stupid not to help people when it's in your self interest.
- potatototoo99 1y ago
  Compassion exists because it was useful for the fitness of the species, in the species where it exists.
- asdff 1y ago
  But in most all cases it is dependent on available resources sufficient to support another unproductive human. In cases where these resources are not available, plenty of accounts exists of humans making hard choices all through history to today.
- xandrius 1y ago
  Could have arisen due to it though.
constantcrying 1y ago
Humans are profoundly irrational. These people were alive as well. Just like most people today they did not see the world as an optimization problem. They took care of the injured because it was the right thing to do, just like we do today. Not because there was some utilitarian value, where you calculate effort spent vs. expected return.

crawfordcomeaux 1y ago

Not taking care of a wise injured person who might recover & help guide others, teach children, care for children, help heal, reveal spiritual teachings, and otherwise be human would be profoundly stupid. Judging who to care for based solely on productivity or ability to direct others would also be profoundly stupid....this strategy sounds like middle-management.

deleted 1y ago
[deleted]
mothballed 1y ago
Strawman
n4r9 1y ago
Surely emotions and morale are worth considering as well. Even if someone is unproductive and stupid, but friendly and well-liked, then their death would impact everyone's productivity for some time.
- crawfordcomeaux 1y ago
  Exactly. Every being has intrinsic value. A pure productivity perspective is rooted in dehumanization and a reductive take on what it means to live/survive/thrive.

cindyllm 1y ago

[dead]

bambax 1y ago

Compassion exists and isn't just driven by self-interest or self-preservation.

mothballed 1y ago
Sure, but I'm not claiming that. I'm only claiming it'd be stupid not to help people when it's in your self interest.
potatototoo99 1y ago
Compassion exists because it was useful for the fitness of the species, in the species where it exists.
asdff 1y ago
But in most all cases it is dependent on available resources sufficient to support another unproductive human. In cases where these resources are not available, plenty of accounts exists of humans making hard choices all through history to today.
xandrius 1y ago
Could have arisen due to it though.

constantcrying 1y ago

Humans are profoundly irrational. These people were alive as well. Just like most people today they did not see the world as an optimization problem. They took care of the injured because it was the right thing to do, just like we do today. Not because there was some utilitarian value, where you calculate effort spent vs. expected return.