Israeli assault targets symbols of Hamas power

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Because... They don't contribute to society in a material way?

I'm not sure that that's really true, but if we assume it is - you're still basically saying the same thing...

In any meaningful way, not just material. Their lives are of no significance

to anyone outside of their families.

Again I'm curious as to what you consider "meaningful". That said there are Downs kids who have gotten degrees and manage to get jobs.

What about autistic kids or savants who learn to cope with their conditions and help provide better insights into their conditions.

Daniel tammet springs to mind.

What about Steven hawking? He costs a lot of money to keep and relies on others to survive. He seems to contribute despite his physical limitations...

[HAL 9000 96]

So in synthesis... the real solution to the whole Israel-Palestine conflict is to send a VJ contingent and kill both sides with these interesting exchanges...

[Tahoma 2,291]

If it was between me and a doctor I'd say kill me because the doctor is more valuable to society and could save more lives than I could.

But you *are* going to be a doctor and you're young - therefore you will probably save

more lives in the future than a doctor who's already old.

What makes your life valuable are your future actions, not your past actions. What's done

is done, your death will not undo the good or bad things you've done. Past performance

is a good measure of future potential - nothing more.

You were arguing just the opposite in a previous post.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

So in synthesis... the real solution to the whole Israel-Palestine conflict is to send a VJ contingent and kill both sides with these interesting exchanges...

I'll go only if I get a nice outfit with space to show my eyes

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Well as tangents go I think it is more interesting than the op topic.

Its easier to argue philosophy as it doesn't call for he-said-she-said interpretations of history.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Well as tangents go I think it is more interesting than the op topic.

Its easier to argue philosophy as it doesn't call for he-said-she-said interpretations of history.

Seis, stfu

Are you joining our peace mission or not?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

No. No peace. It would make the news all boring and stuff if there weren't blood covered blast victims being carried around in shattered streets, and people crying, tearing their hair and beating their breasts,

[*Robert* 2]

Hey guys, since this thread continues, and it is a very hot and passionate topic, I would like to just interject this one thing:

The New Year is almost upon us, and I hope and wish that someday there could just simply be peace, especially in the Middle East, but I think that is being a little bit too hopefull.

Anyway, let's hope that the killing of people, whether Jewish or Muslim or Christian, or whatever religion, will end soon.

Happy New Year everyone.

Robert

[Tahoma 2,291]

Well as tangents go I think it is more interesting than the op topic.

Its easier to argue philosophy as it doesn't call for he-said-she-said interpretations of history.

I also believe that discussing one's philosophical underpinnings is useful in helping us find a way to talk about serious issues like the Israeli / Palestinian conflict.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Hey guys, since this thread continues, and it is a very hot and passionate topic, I would like to just interject this one thing:

The New Year is almost upon us, and I hope and wish that someday there could just simply be peace, especially in the Middle East, but I think that is being a little bit too hopefull.

Anyway, let's hope that the killing of people, whether Jewish or Muslim or Christian, or whatever religion, will end soon.

Happy New Year everyone.

Robert

OMG. brother roi is getting all lovey dovey....

[Ban Hammer 13,109]

Hey guys, since this thread continues, and it is a very hot and passionate topic, I would like to just interject this one thing:

The New Year is almost upon us, and I hope and wish that someday there could just simply be peace, especially in the Middle East, but I think that is being a little bit too hopefull.

Anyway, let's hope that the killing of people, whether Jewish or Muslim or Christian, or whatever religion, will end soon.

Happy New Year everyone.

Robert

OMG. brother roi is getting all lovey dovey....

now's a good time to run!

[*Robert* 2]

Hey guys, since this thread continues, and it is a very hot and passionate topic, I would like to just interject this one thing:

The New Year is almost upon us, and I hope and wish that someday there could just simply be peace, especially in the Middle East, but I think that is being a little bit too hopefull.

Anyway, let's hope that the killing of people, whether Jewish or Muslim or Christian, or whatever religion, will end soon.

Happy New Year everyone.

Robert

OMG. brother roi is getting all lovey dovey....

I blame it on the Holidays sis!

[mawilson 2,133]

If it was between me and a doctor I'd say kill me because the doctor is more valuable to society and could save more lives than I could.

But you *are* going to be a doctor and you're young - therefore you will probably save

more lives in the future than a doctor who's already old.

What makes your life valuable are your future actions, not your past actions. What's done

is done, your death will not undo the good or bad things you've done. Past performance

is a good measure of future potential - nothing more.

You were arguing just the opposite in a previous post.

I said exactly the same - several times - in previous posts.

Here

6 months later you read in the paper that this mother that was worth more than the serial killer drowns the three kids and takes off never to be seen again. You will never know if she remarried, had more kids, drowned them too ,etc.

Well, without a crystal ball or ability to see into the future, we can only make decisions

based on the facts that are presented to us. Statistically speaking, your scenario is

extremely unlikely to happen in real life.

Estimating someone's life's worth is difficult because potential future achievements are

not always (although often) related to past performance. One thing is certain - as you

get older, your potential for future achievements approaches zero and becomes less of

a variable. By this measure, a 90-year-old man's life isn't worth a hell of a lot.

(Any insurance company will tell you the same if you try to buy a life insurance policy

for a 90 year old man.)

and here

Life can be valued in proportion to a person's potential usefulness to society or other people,

for example.

and elsewhere.

If you cannot read, it's not my problem.

[mawilson 2,133]

Again I'm curious as to what you consider "meaningful". That said there are Downs kids who have gotten degrees and manage to get jobs.

Great, these Down kids are worth more than those who haven't and don't.

What about autistic kids or savants who learn to cope with their conditions and help provide better insights into their conditions.

Great, they are worth more than those who don't learn to cope and don't help provide insight.

What about Steven hawking? He costs a lot of money to keep and relies on others to survive. He seems to contribute despite his physical limitations...

Great, he's worth a lot more than other people with disabilities.

So what?

[Amby 490]

mark you should make this into a poll somehow