The Owl and the Ostrich: Reply to Sami Pihlström on Ethical Unthinkabilities and Philosophical Seriousness

Metaphilosophy 42 (5):605-616 (2011)
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Abstract

Sami Pihlström argues in his “Ethical Unthinkabilities and Philosophical Seriousness” that there are some philosophical views that are so dangerous that we should not discuss them. He advances this argument with special reference to my (anti-natalist) view that being brought into existence is always a serious harm. In response I argue: (a) that there are major flaws in his argument for the conclusion that we should not think about (purportedly) unthinkable views; and (b) that my views about the harm of coming into existence are in any event neither unthinkable nor dangerous

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David Benatar
University of Cape Town

References found in this work

Philosophy of Right.Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel - 1896 - Amherst, N.Y.: Dover Publications. Edited by S. W. Dyde.

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