Welcome to Singulati: Our Singularity Weblog Forum

Singulati is a free digital forum open to both singularitarians and skeptics who come together to discuss, debate, collaborate, learn and network within a friendly, informal and rewarding atmosphere. Join us today: together we can build a better future, better you!

A A A

Please consider registering
guest

Log In Register

Register | Lost password?
Advanced Search:

— Forum Scope —



— Match —



— Forum Options —




Wildcard usage:
*  matches any number of characters    %  matches exactly one character

Minimum search word length is 4 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters

Topic RSS
Abolishing all suffering. Do you think it's possible? How do we get there?
April 17, 2011
11:49 am
Nikki Olson
Moderator
Forum Posts: 92
Member Since:
March 2, 2011
Offline

"Abolitionism is a bioethical school and movement which proposes the use of biotechnology to maximize happiness and minimize suffering while working towards the abolition of involuntary suffering.[1] “Abolition” is used for the name of this movement, in the context of “the abolition of suffering".

The Abolitionist Society is a non-profit foundation and forum, founded in 2002, dedicated to the advancement of this philosophy."

 

"The term “abolitionism,” used to describe the use of biotechnology to eliminate suffering, was first proposed by Lewis Mancini in 1986, in his articles for Medical Hypotheses Journal. Abolitionism is the use of science to maximize happiness and minimize suffering — not just in humans but in all sentient life. It is a philosophy inspired by utilitarian ethics: if happiness equals value, then the elimination of suffering or 'maximization of value' should be the prime objective of the human race.

Abolitionism makes no distinction among sentient creatures— all are deemed worthy of being saved from suffering by biotechnological intervention.

An ethical system that is similar to transhumanism, Abolitionism deliberately defines its rationale and method of determining value according to a prime ethical directive with a focus on eliminating involuntary suffering, whereas Transhumanism promotes a collection of values including the well-being of all sentient beings without addressing the question of whether or not involuntary suffering should eventually be eliminated"

Nikki Olson  
April 17, 2011
6:54 pm
CMStewart
east coast USA
Member
Forum Posts: 71
Member Since:
February 3, 2011
Offline

My first thought is "no." But it depends on how "suffering" is defined. I do believe the worse physical abuses *could* be abolished in a post-Singularity society. Not so sure about self-inflicted psychological suffering, though. I suspect there might be a need for some mental suffering, for a frame of reference.

Humans to AI: "Do as we say, not as we do."
July 4, 2011
7:00 pm
PacMan
Keller, TX
Member
Forum Posts: 5
Member Since:
July 4, 2011
Offline

The person I found most useful when thinking about such things was Sam Harris.

 

http://www.ted.com/talks/sam_h…..right.html

 

I have read two of his books, "The Moral Landscape" and "The End of Faith".

 

I highly recommend both.

Forum Timezone: America/Toronto

Most Users Ever Online: 58

Currently Online:
7 Guest(s)

Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)

Top Posters:

KimSolez: 99

CMStewart: 71

Nathan Wosnack: 67

simple1248: 35

Matt Swayne: 6

Shinjeez: 6

Member Stats:

Guest Posters: 0

Members: 78

Moderators: 1

Admins: 2

Forum Stats:

Groups: 4

Forums: 27

Topics: 152

Posts: 510

Newest Members: gufia, solankidhanesh, niesul14, neurodos, keegs440, lostnfoundation

Moderators: Nikki Olson (92)

Administrators: Socrates (108), zippykid (7)