Prenatal and Posthumous Non-Existence: A Reply to Johansson

We have argued that it is rational to have asymmetric attitudes toward prenatal and posthumous non-existence insofar as this asymmetry is a special case of a more general (and arguably rational) asymmetry in our attitudes toward past and future pleasures. Here we respond to an interesting critique o...

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Veröffentlicht in:The journal of ethics 2014-03, Vol.18 (1), p.1-9
Hauptverfasser: Fischer, John Martin, Brueckner, Anthony L.
Format: Artikel
Sprache:eng
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Zusammenfassung:We have argued that it is rational to have asymmetric attitudes toward prenatal and posthumous non-existence insofar as this asymmetry is a special case of a more general (and arguably rational) asymmetry in our attitudes toward past and future pleasures. Here we respond to an interesting critique of our view by Jens Johansson. We contend that his critique involves a crucial and illicit switch in temporal perspectives in the process of considering modal claims (sending us to other possible worlds).
ISSN:1382-4554
1572-8609
DOI:10.1007/s10892-013-9155-9