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Difference between revisions of "Population and the Environment: Analytical Demography and Applied Population Ethics/Foundation of population ethics - population axiology & moral theory"

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|Presenter=ChristopherCowie
 
|Presenter=ChristopherCowie
 
|Pre-meeting notes=How should we compare states of affairs that differ in not only the identities and qualities of life of those who comprise them, but also in their populations? This is the central challenge for moral philosophers working on population and future generations. I introduce the key ideas and arguments. I focus on the ‘repugnant conclusion’: the view that large populations of people with relatively low qualities of life may be better than small populations with relatively higher quality of life. I explore some of the arguments for and against this view and sketch the range of positions that those who wish to avoid it have adopted.    
 
|Pre-meeting notes=How should we compare states of affairs that differ in not only the identities and qualities of life of those who comprise them, but also in their populations? This is the central challenge for moral philosophers working on population and future generations. I introduce the key ideas and arguments. I focus on the ‘repugnant conclusion’: the view that large populations of people with relatively low qualities of life may be better than small populations with relatively higher quality of life. I explore some of the arguments for and against this view and sketch the range of positions that those who wish to avoid it have adopted.    
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|Post-meeting notes=Highlights:  People genuinely seeming to care about philosophy.
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Open questions that came up: questions about the nature of duties to merely potential people and the application of my approach to personal choices as well as public policy choices.
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How your perspective changed: I wouldn't say my perspective changed. But I now think I was wrong to assimilate  personal choices as well as public policy choices in my approach.
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Impact on your own work: A bit more clarity on the above, as well as on the sense of should used to frame my questions (= should of morality not of rationality).
 
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Revision as of 17:41, October 14, 2018

October 13, 2018
9:30 am - 9:45 am

Presenter

Christopher Cowie (Durham Univ.)

Abstract

How should we compare states of affairs that differ in not only the identities and qualities of life of those who comprise them, but also in their populations? This is the central challenge for moral philosophers working on population and future generations. I introduce the key ideas and arguments. I focus on the ‘repugnant conclusion’: the view that large populations of people with relatively low qualities of life may be better than small populations with relatively higher quality of life. I explore some of the arguments for and against this view and sketch the range of positions that those who wish to avoid it have adopted.    

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