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

On Friday, June 16, 2023 at 6:14:25=E2=80=AFPM UTC+2, Rant & Sweaty wrote:
> On 6/15/2023 11:26 AM, Rupert wrote:=20
> > On Thursday, June 15, 2023 at 7:41:11=E2=80=AFPM UTC+2, Ran & Swat wrot=
e:=20
> >> 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 wro=
te:=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 sit=
uation=20
> >>> where no actual animal exists and we merely have at most a "potential=
=20
> >>> animal", then there is no entity there that stands to "enjoy a benefi=
t" if=20
> >>> the "coming into existence" happens.=20
> >>>=20
> >>> Then, on the other hand, if we contemplate an animal leading a comple=
tely=20
> >>> miserable existence, we may be tempted to think "Isn't it true to say=
 that=20
> >>> is was a misfortune for that being to come into existence, and other =
things=20
> >>> equal those who were able to prevent it from happening if they had kn=
own=20
> >>> should have done so", then having gone that far, maybe we're tempted =
to also=20
> >>> say "So it is at least somewhat reasonable to speak of happy beings b=
eing=20
> >>> fortunate to have come into existence, whether or you not you talk ab=
out it=20
> >>> being in some way morally obligatory to bring such beings into existe=
nce if=20
> >>> 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 philoso=
phers=20
> >>> on this topic in the past, on which you've poured unmeasured scorn. B=
ut=20
> >>> still, above I have outlined two thoughts that might be had on the to=
pic,=20
> >>> one of which you probably endorse, and the other of which has at leas=
t some=20
> >>> initial plausibility about it.=20
> >>>=20
> >>> And is there really anything more to be said? Do you think this is in=
 some=20
> >>> way a question with an objective answer, perhaps an answer that is=20
> >>> immediately obvious to everyone more intelligent than David Harrison,=
 and=20
> >>> that you know this and you're doing a good public service by repeated=
ly=20
> >>> pointing this out?=20
> >>>=20
> >>> Anyway. Your goal in writing this post is whatever it was, and you di=
d say=20
> >>> "Discuss"... so... I've discussed a bit.=20
> >> I guess the mathematics thing didn't work out too well for you, eh?=20
> >=20
> > Was invited to speak at an on-line seminar held by University of Barcel=
ona=20
> > because people liked my recent Philosophia Mathematica publication, sti=
ll=20
> > attending conferences, still research active, currently working on thre=
e=20
> > projects which if accepted as correct will have a lasting impact in the=
 field,=20
> > and two other papers in the pipeline as well. Have been advised by a fr=
iend=20
> > that I should be able to crack the UK academic job market if I stick wi=
th it.=20
> >=20
> > However, yeah sure, I am currently unaffiliated. I earn enough from mat=
hs=20
> > tutoring at present to cover roughly 40% of my share of our basic house=
hold=20
> > expenses, and I also received a research grant to work on an AI safety=
=20
> > project, nearly finished writing that one up, significant mathematics=
=20
> > component there, and we received enough money from that for me to be ab=
le to=20
> > say that from that alone I fully covered my share of our household expe=
nses=20
> > from start of August last year up till end of July.=20
> >=20
> > So yeah, going extremely well, thanks for asking. In good spirits.
> You didn't obtain a Ph.D in mathematics to be a math tutor to the underac=
hieving=20
> children of rich fucks. You've never even been an assistant professor. Wh=
at=20
> happened to your tenure track aspirations? I think you have to be in your=
=20
> fifties by now, or at least very close to age 50. For all of your impress=
ive=20
> achievement in obtaining a Ph.D in mathematics, what you have done since =
then=20
> amounts to dilettantism =E2=80=94 basically, dabbling.=20
>=20
> Obtaining a Ph.D in mathematics: impressive. Dabbling and dilettantism ev=
er=20
> since: unimpressive. Age 50 +/- with a Ph.D and only covering 40% of hous=
ehold=20
> expenses: parasitism and sponging.

Truth to tell, I really feel sorry for you more than anything else. Are you=
 retired as yet, by the way?