Ethics
Do we have a right to procreate?
Life can be a pretty difficult journey. What right do we have to decide that another person should go through it? Even if in good faith we wish our children health and happiness, we know that some suffering is inevitably part of life. If for example I know that my child will inherit with 99% probability a very painful disease: can I be held responsible for his/her suffering? What if the probability is 50%? what about 1%? What about the 100% certainty of death: aren't I responsible for the effects that I know will surely result from my actions? Life can also be quite unpredictable, who knows what will be of our world in 80 years. Isn't having a kid placing a bet (hopefully benevolent) on someone's else life? Does it even make sense to say that I do something for the well being of someone who doesn't exist yet? Isn't having a kid a very selfish thing, something we do out of our present desires (or fears) which will cause the suffering of another human being?
I hope somebody will tackle these (many!) question (or at least some of them).
Thanks
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When, if ever, is profane language justified?
I saw some people yesterday carrying signs with pictures of Obama with a Hitler mustache. As a Jew and an American, I was deeply offended and became so angry that I launched into a profanity-laced tirade. Afterwards, I definitely felt bad about losing my cool, but I also wondered more generally when and if the use of profane language can be justified.
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Is there such a thing as a selfless action?
Given there's always a self doing the action, surely it's not possible? Even if you appear to the outside world to be acting against your interests, it's always for YOUR reasons and therefore selfish? For example someone gives up all their money and time to a charity, they would do it because they think it's right to do that, therefore they feel better about themselves...OR a mother gives up her kidneys for her child condemning herself to death, it would be because it would hurt HER more to have the child die and not help, than to die herself.
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