Taedrin
Gallente
Golden Mechanization Protectorate
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Posted - 2009.07.25 03:37:00 -
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Edited by: Taedrin on 25/07/2009 03:38:26
 Originally by: Akita T
Edited by: Akita T on 24/07/2009 20:52:24
Originally by: rValdez5987
The true problem with this idea is that we aren't sure about the concept of consciousness and souls.
Souls might exist, but so could just about anything else. Lacking definite proof either way, we can safely assume souls do not exist. If they do... well, bugger.
Just because there is no evidence of something does not mean that it does not exist. Instead of saying "Lacking definite proof either way, we can safely assume souls do not exist.", you should have said:
"Because we don't have any evidence of the existence of a soul, we can not assume that a soul exists". We can not assume that a soul exists, but we also can not assume that a soul does NOT exist. You can't assume anything until you have evidence to back yourself up. And lack of evidence is not evidence.
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Basically... it doesn't matter.
I matter, everybody else (not just including, but ESPECIALLY my clone) only matters as long as they suit my purposes 
Altruism is only another form of egoism... a long-term planning, smart form of egoism 
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Love ? Again, egoism. Since we know we're not immortal, RIGHT NOW the only "way" for us to acheive imortality is genetically, via our offspring.
Giving your life for a loved one ? Egoism, again. Or stupidity, depending on circumstances (is that "loved one" your offspring, or do they carry your offspring, or at least are instrumental in taking care of your offspring? then all fine, otherwise stupid).
TBH, the notion that you can achieve immortality through your offspring is ridiculous. When you die, you die. Your "self" ceases to exist (presuming some form of an afterlife or quantum-immortality does not exist). Your memories cease to exist. Your abilities to perceive the universe cease to exist. For all intents and purposes, when you die, the universe ceases to exist as well. This means that when you die, your loved ones cease to exist as well.
The reason why someone sacrifices themselves for a loved one is because this response has evolved over time. DNA which leads to the preservation of offspring is more likely to be passed down to future generations. Thus DNA which causes one's self to preserve their offspring over themselves tends to be expressed more than DNA which does not.
Now, what is egoism? Simply put, it is when you prefer to have situations benefit yourself, even at the expense of others. When you sacrifice yourself for your offspring - you do not benefit. Your DNA does. And your DNA is not a sentient entity, so is not capable of recognizing such abstract concepts as "egoism" and "altruism". Actually, what I said before does not make sense either. Your DNA does not benefit either, as the concept of being able to "benefit" from something requires a "self" to receive the "benefit". And as a DNA does not have a "self", it can not benefit. It just so happens to be that DNA which preserves offspring DNA is more likely to be expressed in the gene pool. It's just a fluke in the laws of physics, mathematics and statistics. Your DNA is not capable of wanting something. It just simply "is".
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