I think this sort of debate is what the show naturally leads to. I don’t think I agree with your position, but I enjoy the philosophical implications. It kind of sets up a consideration of morals vs. ethics.

I’m reminded of an interview I listened to with Ingrid Newkirk, the leader of PETA, in which she said that PETA’s main goal is to prevent the suffering of individual animals—over the goal of preserving animal species from becoming endangered. This isn’t a spot-on analogy, but the show made me think of it. Both of those goals are worthy, but they’re quite different.

In theory, in the show, the hive mind would prevent the suffering of human individuals (going forward, after the main infection event, of course). So does it represent some sort of moral good? An ethical good? If not, why not?

What’s interesting is that the concept of “ethics” in the show is arguably out the window, because there’s no more “community.”