Albert Tatlock wrote:BlindedWantsToSee wrote:Quantum theory tells us that everything, all things which apparently are very different from each other, are actually made up of the same, basic, fundamental, raw material. / I personally believe that the fact that we are sentient, that we have consciousness, is telling us we are all of the same value and importance by virtue of that consciousness.
Albert Tatlock wrote:
That, in itself, doesn't logically lead to the conclusion you come to. It's a bit like saying that because my house and my garden wall are both constructed from the same type of brick they are both of equal value. Value is subjective. From my point of view, the house is of greater value than the wall. From the point of view of a plant growing in a crack in the wall, the wall is of greater value.
Value is subjective; we agree on that. What I'm saying is that the system of values and beliefs we hold individually and as a society (in which, for example, we are superior to other species and have the right to use them as we see fit, regardless of whether they agree), are doing us a disservice because they are producing a quality of life for us which most people are not satisfied with.
Most people have very similar values. They believe they are, and their kind is, superior to other life forms. They want happiness, fun, respect from others, comfort, fairness, justice, freedom, peace, health, and many other factors that contribute to their overall well-being; but most people are not getting what they value and want. I believe we put in our lives the wrong values, beliefs, and actions (as a consequence of values and beliefs), and therefore we obtain the wrong results. Should all life forms decide to respect all other life forms, nobody would be disrespecting anybody. There would be peace.
Here is the controversial part. It is not possible for us to refrain from exploiting or destroying other life forms and remain alive for very long, because we need to eat, and we have other needs which require us to exploit and/or destroy other living beings. To me it is obvious that this life we are living, the one that forces us to do injustice to other living beings, is of an evil, unjust, nature. We should not participate, or exit as soon as possible, if we can help it. It say "injustice" because if those actions are taken against any of us, we know deep inside in our minds or hearts that what is happening, what is being done to us, is wrong. I think all life is playing a sort of universal cosmic game. Some players love the game (which is just fine) and would play multiple times if they could, and some, (maybe the ones that have seen all of the cheating and the injuries that go on) have had enough of it and will quit playing at some point.
Albert Tatlock wrote:
Besides, why do you think it fair that human beings should bear the responsibility of ensuring that all livings things be treated as equal when all other living things would necessarily be exempt from such a responsibility?
I don't. I suggest we keep our hands to ourselves only; just to stop hurting or exploiting other living beings as much as we can. I'm not sure what the results of that would be. They probably would be positive for the human race, but I think the above exit plan is a more effective choice.
Albert Tatlock wrote:
(Nested quote removed.)
You seem to be implying that we are not meant to ever suffer and the fact that we do is evidence that we are doing something wrong. If I were to be struck by lightning, I would suffer. What principle do you suggest I honour in order to avoid that possibility.
I don't believe that people should suffer. It's OK that we should suffer and live a miserable life only because we say it's OK, or accept that it is. But that is not an absolute truth. There is really no good reason for suffering, other than that is the way things work out in life. If somebody really wants to suffer, that's fine; I believe people should have the experiences they want, without imposing their choices on others against their will.
I don't believe most people want to suffer, and they believe they suffer necessarily because they ignore the rules of the game, and they live in the wrong way as a consequence of their ignorance.
To answer your last question: According to my system of beliefs and morality, the atmosphere would be hurting you, doing evil against you. I would suggest you honor rule number 3. d. which states " Evil is unacceptable. Nobody should tolerate it or put up with it." If the Earth is going to treat me like that, then the hell with Earth. I'm going somewhere else because I do not put up with that sort of abuse against my person. I value myself. I value the quality of my life experience. If we did that, that lightning strike would probably be our last time of experiencing something unpleasant.