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

On 6/16/2023 9:44 AM, Rupert wrote:
> On Friday, June 16, 2023 at 6:14:25 PM UTC+2, Rant & Sweaty wrote:
>> On 6/15/2023 11:26 AM, Rupert wrote:
>>> On Thursday, June 15, 2023 at 7:41:11 PM UTC+2, Ran & Swat wrote:
>>>> On 6/4/2023 9:30 AM, Rupert wrote:
>>>>> On Friday, April 28, 2023 at 4:03:58 AM UTC+2, Rat & Swan wrote:
>>>>>> Discuss.
>>>>>
>>>>> Pretty fair to ask, really, what do you mean by saying that?
>>>>>
>>>>> So okay sure we get your main point, that if you're considering a situation
>>>>> 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.
>>>>>
>>>>> Then, on the other hand, if we contemplate an animal leading a completely
>>>>> miserable existence, we may be tempted to think "Isn't it true to say that
>>>>> is was a misfortune for that being to come into existence, and other things
>>>>> equal those who were able to prevent it from happening if they had known
>>>>> should have done so", then having gone that far, maybe we're tempted to also
>>>>> say "So it is at least somewhat reasonable to speak of happy beings being
>>>>> 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 existence if
>>>>> you can, which is a separate issue". So you have that thought as well.
>>>>>
>>>>> And of course I've shown you articles written by professional philosophers
>>>>> 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.
>>>>>
>>>>> And is there really anything more to be said? Do you think this is in some
>>>>> way a question with an objective answer, perhaps an answer that is
>>>>> immediately 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?
>>>>>
>>>>> 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
>>> attending conferences, still research active, currently working on three
>>> projects 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 friend
>>> 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
>>> tutoring 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
>>> project, nearly finished writing that one up, significant mathematics
>>> component there, and we received enough money from that for me to be able to
>>> say that from that alone I fully covered my share of our household expenses
>>> from start of August last year up till end of July.
>>>
>>> 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 underachieving
>> children of rich fucks. You've never even been an assistant professor. What
>> happened to your tenure track aspirations? I think you have to be in your
>> fifties by now, or at least very close to age 50. For all of your impressive
>> achievement in obtaining a Ph.D in mathematics, what you have done since then
>> amounts to dilettantism — basically, dabbling.
>>
>> Obtaining a Ph.D in mathematics: impressive. Dabbling and dilettantism ever
>> since: unimpressive. Age 50 +/- with a Ph.D and only covering 40% of household
>> expenses: parasitism and sponging.
> 
> Truth to tell, I really feel sorry for you more than anything else.

Yeah, sure, woopie...sure you do.  I haven't had the life I expected, but I've 
done okay.  I earn a good income – circa $165K US, not a fortune, but decent, 
and I pay about 85% of the household bills, versus your measly 40%.

> Are you retired as yet, by the way?

Nope — still productively working in IT. Somewhat to my chagrin (now), I married 
quite late, and have a 22 year old son still at university.  I probably could 
retire and continue to pay his expenses, but I enjoy my work well enough and it 
pays well (see above), so I keep at it.

But why did you never achieve a tenure track position at a reputable 
university...or any fucking university at all, for that matter?   You don't get 
a Ph.D in mathematics without having that as a heartfelt goal.  What happened, 
woopie?  What the *fuck* happened?