The Slow Clap Phenomenon + Professor Procrastinate
All or Nothing + Abortions and Moral Risk
Longtermism
The Repugnant Conclusion + The End of Humanity
Anti-Natalism
100

According to Actualism, whether Professor Procrastinate ought to accept the invitation depends on...

What will in fact happen if Professor Procrastinate accepts it.

100

In the All or Nothing problem, it seems plausible that it is morally permissible for you not to save both children, and that it is morally wrong for you to save only one child.

What is the problem with these two plausible claims?

Together they imply that you ought to save neither child rather than save only one, which seems implausible.

100

What is Longtermism?

The idea that positively influencing the long-term future is the most significant moral priority of our time.

100

Which principle implies that we always have a reason to bring people into existence?

The Total Principle

100

What is Benatar's central claim?

(Or: what does anti-natalism say?)

Coming into existence is always a harm, even when life is good.

200

What kind of actions are slow-clap behaviors?

They are blameworthy when omitted, but not praiseworthy when performed.

200

Moller's argument relies on which phenomenon?

Normative uncertainty

200

"Distance in time is like distance in space" (p. 4) -- what does MacAskill mean by that?

Just as people matter regardless of where they live, they matter regardless of when they live.

200

According to Finneron-Burns, what two things are plausible to say about the Hell on Earth scenario?

1. It shows that human flourishing is essential to what humanity is.

2. In this scenario, the end of humanity would be a good thing.

200

What is the asymmetry that Benatar's argument relies on?

The absence of pain is good, even if no one experiences it, but the absence of pleasure is not bad (unless someone is deprived of that pleasure).

296

According to Possibilism, whether Professor Procrastinate ought to accept the invitation depends on...

What could happen if Professor Procrastinate accepts it.

296

Horton's solution to the All or Nothing problem relies on which principle?

If you were not willing to save either child, it would be permissible for you not to save either, but because you are willing to save one, you ought to save both.

296

MacAskill considers two reasons to think that present people matter more than future people. What are they?

1. Partiality: we have stronger relationships with present people.

2. Reciprocity: present people benefit us.

296

 What is the difference between the Total Principle and the Average Principle?

The Average Principle aims to maximize the average well-being across all people, while the Total Principle aims to maximize the total quantity of well-being.

296

According to Benatar, why can't we compare the pain and pleasure in a person's life in order to determine whether that person's existence is better than non-existence?

Comparing the pain and pleasure in a person's life only tells us how good or bad the person’s life is, but doesn't tell us anything about the comparison between existence and non-existence.

400

According to Johnson King, a slow-clap behavior is a behavior that...

The agent would experience the decision to perform it as a no-brainer, as long as she cared adequately; and that the agent would perform it, as long as she was trying adequately.

400

According to Moller, what is the main reason to think that there is a considerable margin for error when it comes to abortions?

Moral reasoning is complex, and it is easy to get things wrong.

400

MacAskill considers two reasons to think that present people matter more than future people. How does he respond to these considerations?

These considerations justify giving extra weight to present people, but don't justify ignoring future people's interests.

400

Finneron-Burns ultimately argues that humanity should be defined as...

Human bodies with human abilities, achievements and flourishing.

400

Why does Benatar think most people falsely believe their own existence is not a harm, and do not regret their existence?

Because they have adaptive preferences.

500

According to Immerman, whether Prof. Procrastinate ought to accept the invitation depends on...

The relative goodness of declining the invitation.

500

What are two implications of the Optimific Altruism principle?

1. There are no supererogatory actions

2. If you're willing to give to charity, you ought to give to a charity that would use your donation to do the most good.

500

According to MacAskill, what makes our current era unusually important from a longtermist perspective?

We are living through an era of rapid technological, environmental, and social change, which gives us the power to shape the future significantly.

500

What does it mean that "better than" is transitive?

That for any three possibilities A, B and C, if A is better than B and B is better than C, then A is better than C.

500

What is one implication of Benatar's argument?

It is preferable that humanity will die out; that no more people exist.

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