Stathis Papaioannou wrote: > > > On 2/12/07, *Tom Caylor* <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> wrote: > > > > Stathis Papaioannou wrote: > > > > > Tom Caylor writes: > > > > > > > > Brent Meeker > > > > > > "It does not matter now that in a million years nothing > we do now > > > will matter." > > > > > > --- Thomas Nagel > > > > > > > We might like to believe Nagel, but it isn't true. > > > > > > > Tom > > > > > > That is, it isn't true that in a million years nothing we do > now will > > > > matter. > > > > > Why do you say "we might like to believe Nagel"? Why would > anyone want > > > it to be the case that nothing we do now will matter in a > million years? > > In order to think in terms beyond a few generations, we need a basis > for meaning that is more universal than explaining and controlling > things in our immediate sphere of "care abouts", like our animal > instincts.
But what we care about right now, may include anything we think of - including how things will be a million years from now, including an abstract principle, even including a fine point of theology. >(Such a local basis does not support doing things like > sacrificing your life for others even a couple thousand years in the > future.) For the very good reason that one cannot foresee the benefits of such sacrifice so far in the future. But people sacrifice for others that they know all the time. > But if we reject the ultimate basis, then it feels good to > say that it doesn't matter. > > Tom > > > If we discovered some million year old civilization today I think wonder > at its achievements, however paltry, would far outweigh dismay at its > wickedness, however extreme. I'm not sure what the significance of this > observation is. I don't think it's true. My exhibit A is the Aztecs. Brent Meeker There is a certain impertinence in allowing oneself to be burned for an opinion. -- Anatole France --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Everything List" group. To post to this group, send email to everything-list@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/everything-list?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---