Less than 10 days after Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida, the state is bracing for another potentially devastating blow from a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico, this one a potential Category 3 storm.
True, I don’t like it when animals suffer. So there’s a bit of a paradox at play here. To the extent that they are animals, I do not wish them to suffer. But to the extent that they are rational creatures, or persons, then their choices were evil and they deserve to suffer. So the only way that I can feel pity for them is to strip them of their rational autonomy and personhood and treat them as mere animals (granting them pity).
Is that what you think I should do? Regard 80% of humanity as little more than amoral apes with a tenuous grasp of language? Well, that might be the truth.
It’s the ability to say, if this were me this would suck. If this were me I would be devastated and even though the consequences are of my own making I wouldn’t mind if someone lent me a hand.
It’s OK to have empathy for people who fuck around. I mean they got their just desserts. No need to kick them while they are down.
True, I don’t like it when animals suffer. So there’s a bit of a paradox at play here. To the extent that they are animals, I do not wish them to suffer. But to the extent that they are rational creatures, or persons, then their choices were evil and they deserve to suffer. So the only way that I can feel pity for them is to strip them of their rational autonomy and personhood and treat them as mere animals (granting them pity).
Is that what you think I should do? Regard 80% of humanity as little more than amoral apes with a tenuous grasp of language? Well, that might be the truth.
That is not at all what I suggest. You sir, are being difficult.
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Thanks for this not insightful look into mental gymnastics.
I think my argument is fairly solid. Your demand for pity pretty much requires me to treat them like helpless animals.
I’m open to change my mind on this.
It’s not pity. It’s empathy. It’s what you lack.
It’s the ability to say, if this were me this would suck. If this were me I would be devastated and even though the consequences are of my own making I wouldn’t mind if someone lent me a hand.
Either they’re moral agents, in which case they’re evil, or they’re just animals.
If they’re evil we should not be empathetic.
If they’re mere animals, we should be empathetic.
You want the latter, right?
Empathy isn’t reserved for only animals. I’m talking with a child.