Re: "Getting to experience life" is not a benefit to animals

On Thursday, June 15, 2023 at 7:41:11=E2=80=AFPM UTC+2, Ran & Swat wrote:
> On 6/4/2023 9:30 AM, Rupert wrote:=20
> > On Friday, April 28, 2023 at 4:03:58=E2=80=AFAM UTC+2, Rat & Swan wrote=
:=20
> >> Discuss.=20
> >=20
> > Pretty fair to ask, really, what do you mean by saying that?=20
> >=20
> > So okay sure we get your main point, that if you're considering a situa=
tion where no actual animal exists and we merely have at most a "potential =
animal", then there is no entity there that stands to "enjoy a benefit" if =
the "coming into existence" happens.=20
> >=20
> > Then, on the other hand, if we contemplate an animal leading a complete=
ly miserable existence, we may be tempted to think "Isn't it true to say th=
at is was a misfortune for that being to come into existence, and other thi=
ngs equal those who were able to prevent it from happening if they had know=
n should have done so", then having gone that far, maybe we're tempted to a=
lso say "So it is at least somewhat reasonable to speak of happy beings bei=
ng fortunate to have come into existence, whether or you not you talk about=
 it being in some way morally obligatory to bring such beings into existenc=
e if you can, which is a separate issue". So you have that thought as well.=
=20
> >=20
> > And of course I've shown you articles written by professional philosoph=
ers on this topic in the past, on which you've poured unmeasured scorn. But=
 still, above I have outlined two thoughts that might be had on the topic, =
one of which you probably endorse, and the other of which has at least some=
 initial plausibility about it.=20
> >=20
> > And is there really anything more to be said? Do you think this is in s=
ome way a question with an objective answer, perhaps an answer that is imme=
diately obvious to everyone more intelligent than David Harrison, and that =
you know this and you're doing a good public service by repeatedly pointing=
 this out?=20
> >=20
> > Anyway. Your goal in writing this post is whatever it was, and you did =
say "Discuss"... so... I've discussed a bit.
> I guess the mathematics thing didn't work out too well for you, eh?

Was invited to speak at an on-line seminar held by University of Barcelona =
because people liked my recent Philosophia Mathematica publication, still a=
ttending conferences, still research active, currently working on three pro=
jects which if accepted as correct will have a lasting impact in the field,=
 and two other papers in the pipeline as well. Have been advised by a frien=
d that I should be able to crack the UK academic job market if I stick with=
 it.

However, yeah sure, I am currently unaffiliated. I earn enough from maths t=
utoring at present to cover roughly 40% of my share of our basic household =
expenses, and I also received a research grant to work on an AI safety proj=
ect, nearly finished writing that one up, significant mathematics component=
 there, and we received enough money from that for me to be able to say tha=
t from that alone I fully covered my share of our household expenses from s=
tart of August last year up till end of July.

So yeah, going extremely well, thanks for asking. In good spirits.