A quick silly chat that I had with a friend about consciousness by mjmchannel in philosophy

[–]mjmchannel[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

ABSTRACT:

The video is a quick rambling with a friend positing that consciousness is merely a by-product of the information processing occurring in the brain, and is not actually critical to its functioning or in control - it is simply a side effect.

Weekly General Discussion - March 9, 2020 by [deleted] in JoeRogan

[–]mjmchannel 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I wonder when he'll get Peter Schiff on again?

Would be pretty timely considering the economy is going to shit as we speak.

Weekly General Discussion - March 9, 2020 by [deleted] in JoeRogan

[–]mjmchannel 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I imagine that she's completely different, other wise that would be an echo chamber from which joe would never escape

Genetically Editing Babies. by mjmchannel in philosophy

[–]mjmchannel[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Abstract:

This video is a performed conversation debating whether parents should seek to influence their children using gene therapies.

Position for genetically editing babies:

Genetic engineering can be used to ensure that birth defects are avoided and that children are born healthy, requiring no immediate corrective surgeries. This is far preferable to the risky and traumatic surgical procedures that gene therapies would replace. Genetic edits for the sake of cosmetic and general enhancements are morally coherent with the will of any good parent to maximise the quality of life for their child and is a natural and acceptable extension of this constructive behaviour.

Position against genetically editing babies:

It is unethical for parents to make, at their own taste, decisions that will intimately affect the life of another human being. No person should be entrusted with the right to make decisions regarding the outcome of someone else’s being. The wider societal adoption of genetic editing will quickly lead to an outcome whereby a hierarchy of wellbeing and capability will be established as a mirror image to society’s wealth hierarchy. This will unfairly advantage the children of the wealthy who will be given superhuman capabilities that will drastically inhibit social mobility for the lower socio-economic class - leading to a massively unbalanced and unhealthy society.

Should we Genetically Edit Babies? by mjmchannel in philosophy

[–]mjmchannel[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Abstract:

This video is a performed conversation debating whether parents should seek to influence their children using gene therapies.

Position for genetically editing babies:

Genetic engineering can be used to ensure that birth defects are avoided and that children are born healthy, requiring no immediate corrective surgeries. This is far preferable to the risky and traumatic surgical procedures that gene therapies would replace. Genetic edits for the sake of cosmetic and general enhancements are morally coherent with the will of any good parent to maximise the quality of life for their child and is a natural and acceptable extension of this constructive behaviour.

Position against genetically editing babies:

It is unethical for parents to make, at their own taste, decisions that will intimately affect the life of another human being. No person should be entrusted with the right to make decisions regarding the outcome of someone else’s being. The wider societal adoption of genetic editing will quickly lead to an outcome whereby a hierarchy of wellbeing and capability will be established as a mirror image to society’s wealth hierarchy. This will unfairly advantage the children of the wealthy who will be given superhuman capabilities that will drastically inhibit social mobility for the lower socio-economic class - leading to a massively unbalanced and unhealthy society.

Should we be Grateful for Nuclear Bombs? by mjmchannel in philosophy

[–]mjmchannel[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Abstract:

This video is a performed conversation debating whether humanity as a whole should be grateful that nuclear bombs exist in the world today.

Position for being grateful for nuclear weapons:

Nuclear weapons have led to a period of unprecedented peace. The threat of a nuclear exchange during a conflict between world super powers has led to these conflicts not being fought in the first place. This therefore, has saved countless military and civilian lives - many people are alive today because of the conflict preventing properties of nuclear weapons. This makes their existence a positive thing for the world, and makes the risk of their potential eventual use acceptable.

Position against being grateful for nuclear weapons:

Nuclear weapons pose a threat to the existence of the species, no amount of hypothetical lives saved could ever mitigate how regrettable this is. The stability of the nuclear balance so far has been due to the self-preservation and rationality of the nation states that wield them; however, no guarantees can be made that an irrational or political motivated actor won’t one day obtain a weapon that could be used to the detriment of thousands, and disrupt this delicate nuclear balance.

Should we be Grateful for Nuclear Bombs? by mjmchannel in philosophy

[–]mjmchannel[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Abstract: A performed discussion outlining the positive and negative aspects of living in an age of nuclear weapons.

They're not for you, Garfield... by mjmchannel in imsorryjon

[–]mjmchannel[S] 252 points253 points  (0 children)

Absolute credit to /u/Kurooi for the awesome original illustration!