Philosopher Jan Narveson said we're in favour of making people happy. But neutral about whether to bring more such people into existence. The intuition of neutrality can be very appealing, but it also poses problems. Some philosophers take what's called an impersonal view and weigh lives too. They think of ways to evaluate different futures for humanity or a particular population. This is one version of the repugnant conclusion within philosophy.
Cows are venerated in India, but precisely how intensely often depends on politics. And being venerated does not necessarily yield a pleasant life for the creatures. Economists rarely consider how policies will affect birth rates and the yet-to-be-born; we examine the thorny topic of “population ethics”. And foreign-language phrasebooks may be in decline but they maintain huge historical value.
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