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Old 07-07-2010, 09:49 AM   #728
troymc
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ea View Post
Actually, why should we minimise suffering? I'm asking in a "devil's advocate" sense, but really, why should we? Because it gives us a warm fuzzy feeling? Is it advantageous for us as a species?

My gut feeling towards both suffering and causing it, is to avoid it if I can, but I really don't see a good explanation for why, and I don't understand why I should feel like this. I happen to do so, but I'm not sure at all whether it's right. It's certainly not rational, and I think that bothers me.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ea View Post
Hmm... what if I suggested that the only real reason behind minimising "suffering" and "being good to anmals" is because it gives us warm fuzzy feelings? And because we (most of us), and the society we live in, can afford those feelings.
I think someone mentioned "caretaker." I fully believe that eliminating suffering *does* help us as a species. I would almost ask "How can it not?" I don't know of anything which thrives while suffering. And all species are interdependent to some extent.


Troy
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