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Date Posted: 03:52:49 10/15/02 Tue
Author: ketch-20Sep02
Subject: Re: Materialism and the future of mankind
In reply to: Eponymous - 20 Sept 2002 's message, "Re: Materialism and the future of mankind" on 03:51:23 10/15/02 Tue

It follows that all human emotional needs, curiosities, desires etc. can be satisfied by artificial means if only we know which neurological buttons to press."

Really? It follows? How does this follow?

Let me rephrase that.

It follows that all human emotional needs, curiosities, desires etc. can be satisfied (in as much as they are capable of being satisfied) by artificial means if only we know which neurological buttons to press.

While I suppose some people might merely want to be "happy" in the impoverished sense of being merely (if perfectly) hedonically sated, most who think on it would rather (as a threshold matter) want to be worthy of happiness, 'happiness' here in the richer sense of engaging in meaningful life activity.


Why would most want to be worthy of such happiness? The very suggestion of being "worthy" of such happiness has metaphysical overtones.

The desire to be worthy could be satisfied by artificial means as effectively as it could by natural means. In effect we could be programmed not to require such worthyness.

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