From: "Phil Roberts, Jr." 




Lucy wrote:
> 
> I am not responding to your posting per se which is not terribly accessible.
> I visited your web site at  http://www.fortunecity.com/victorian/dada/90/
> and found it most fascinating. On a first, rapid reading I detected no
> obvious internal inconsistencies. I will be fascinated to watch and see
> whether this thread is followed and debated by some of the more interesting
> minds in this group. Thanks for the insights,
> Lucy
> 

Thanks for your input, Lucy.  Here is a quote from Derek Parfit, which
perhaps is a bit more accessible:




        Special concern for one's own future would be selected by 
        evolution: Animals without such concern would be more likely
        to die before passing on their genes.  Such concern would 
        remain, as a natural fact, even if we decided that it was not
        justified.  By thinking hard about the arguments, we might
        be able briefly to stun this natural concern.  But it would
        soon revive...  The fact that we have this attitude cannot
        therefore be a reason for thinking it justified.  Whether
        it is justified [i.e. rational] is an open question, waiting 
        to be answered (Derek Parfit, 'Reasons and Persons').
 

phil