Why should we prefer existence to non-existence?

[Edwin]

Why should we prefer existence to non-existence?

Edwin

[DavidOdden]

"Should" implies ethics, which is possible only if you exist. Your question crucially depends on the fact of existence. Would you care to re-frame the question so that you don't presuppose having made the choice to exist?

[volco]

Why should we prefer existence to non-existence?

Edwin

Could you tell me what motivated such a question. I would have understood something like "why existence exists?" but where did you get the idea that you can chose to exist? You can only chose to cease existing.

Should you not prefer to exist there are plenty of methods to terminate your existence without harming others in the process. We can even start a competition to within this message board to convince you that you wont exist after your mind is separated from your body in the disintegrating experience of death.

The problem is when someone wishes not to exist but isn't brave enough to make that happen. The subject has no regard for life, like a dead man walking, and is therefore destructive and potentially very dangerous.

[KevinD]

Before I was born, I didn't exist. I don't remember much about it.

[TuringAI]

Before I was born, I didn't exist. I don't remember much about it.

Nice one!

[dream_weaver]

Before I was born, I didn't exist. I don't remember much about it.

Don't remember much? Much? What, specifically, do you remember?

[crypticway]

The problem is when someone wishes not to exist but isn't brave enough to make that happen. The subject has no regard for life...

He has no regard for his own life, but he may still have regard for others. He *could* have no regard for others lives, but that's independent of whether he has regard for his own. Not valuing your own life, which exists, is different than not valuing other's lives.

[musenji]

Don't remember much? Much? What, specifically, do you remember?

The Platonist's answer: "Only what I've experienced here."

[KevinD]

Don't remember much? Much? What, specifically, do you remember?

Only that there were no avocados. On that front alone, I choose to remain in existence.

[volco]

He has no regard for his own life, but he may still have regard for others. He *could* have no regard for others lives, but that's independent of whether he has regard for his own. Not valuing your own life, which exists, is different than not valuing other's lives.

True, there are those kind of altruists who offer themselves devotedly unto others. However, how much can you value some else's life when you disregard your own? Much of Ayn Rand's psychological points were on the self hatred of tyrants.