Can We Harm People That Might Not Even Exists?

I never really gave much thought to how a decision I make today can impact people in future generations, at least environmentally. The idea makes sense I just never thought hard about ramifications. Asking if it would be bad for no future people to exists doesn't seem like a yes or no answer, at least not for me. I mean, if people weren't to exists in the future, let's say it ends with our generation, can it really be bad if it isn't hurting anybody? The future people who would have existed-I wouldn't say they were better off not existing than existing. 

Personally I believe that if I was to have been born a year or even a month later I would still have been me. I understand how it would be a different set of cells so "technically" I suppose I would be different- I guess what I am trying to say is that I can see it both ways. Therefore I believe that having no other generations would not cause harm to those future individuals, I mean whose to say the would have even existed in the first place. Also, if the climate decisions we're making now, good or bad, would still result in no future generations I don't see what harm that would cause. Although, if we were to make positive climate decisions that would make future generations better off, or if our negative climate decisions make it so potential future generations isn't even possible, then I believe we would be harming those individuals if they were to have been born. I guess what I am trying to say is that I agree that the decisions I make today have the potential to affect others after me. If I decide to become a very active environmentalist, I would hope that those decisions would help make like better for those future individuals, but if I knew that life was finite then what good does me trying to help out the world really do? If the effects won't be seen my anyone what's the point?   

-Lauryn 

Have We Always Been the Same Person?

 Thinking back to when I was a kid seems almost like another lifetime, or was it? Saying I am the same person that I was back when I was ten to now, being 20, just doesn't make sense to me. I have changed. My personality as well as physical characteristics of myself are not the same as they were. Although, one part of me believes that deep inside I am still that little girl when I was ten. I think this can get fairly confusing when thinking of our past and future compared to who we are right now. Are the memories I have of myself as a child really from past experiences, or are they from people telling me of past events that I now have drilled into my brain. Frankly I do not know. 

After reading Perry's article I was left with so many questions, because I was exposed to a wide variety of different perspectives. They can't all be true, or can they? When I think about survival, I don't have a definitive answer, however I would have to say that my personal views fir most with Weirob. I think this because how can one say that we live on if there is no proof, and frankly I don't understand the importance of ones soul. Just because our sould may live on doesn't necessarily mean that we do.  I would like to think that when I die that this isn't the end for me but who knows. I am a person who tends to see things as black and white, I like facts not what ifs, so this is very troubling for me. If I believe that my death is not the end then where does that place me in the future? From a different perspective I like to think that family member who have already passed are still there looking out and watching over me. If I believe that to be true then that must mean we do survive, maybe not in the same body but we live on. Somehow a part of them would still have to be themselves from their past lives. At the end of the day I don't think I will every get a definitive answer to my questions, and that will have to be okay. For me, whatever happens happens. 

-Lauryn 

https://rintintin.colorado.edu/~vancecd/phil201/Perry.pdf

Turning Weakness Into Strength

                                        

Critchley's piece really made me contemplate the emotions I have been experiencing throughout this pandemic. Anxiety and fear is something that we all are dealing with currently, or at least most of us have experienced this during the last few months at one point or another. As Critchley says, we experience fear due to an object, but when we experience anxiety there is no definitive object that we are scared of. To me this can be hard to comprehend. I myself get anxiety of the thought of contracting the virus and then bringing it home to someone I care about. Covid-19 is not an object that we can see with our eyes, therefore the thought of Covid-19 gives me anxiety. Although, I do think sometimes they can be one in the same. I believe having a fear, for example vomiting, can also give one anxiety. When I see it in front of me it is an object, but when I myself am nauseous- that is objectless. That is just one of the examples that immediately popped in my head.

Critchley mentions how he believes that the role of philosophy can actually help us face our own morality. As described in the text, morality is probably one of the biggest obstacles that humans face. In order for us to truly live we have to accept the fact that morality exists, we can't fear it. I think when he describes philosophy, he's also comparing it to a way of life. I think this because when Critchley mentions facing reality, he also says that we are facing our weakness. Towards the end he mentions how "weakness is our strength". I didn't really understand exactly where he was going with this. I think maybe he is trying to say that we need to come to terms with things we can't control, like morality. Our fear of morality is certainly one of our weaknesses, so if we are able to apply the principles he spells out in the text, I believe that this actually can be our strength. This correlates perfectly with the pandemic we are all going through right now. Hundreds are dying everyday, and some days even thousands. Having a fear of morality is certainly expected. I agree that if we can use this weaknesses of fear that we all have, and if we are able to turn this into strength, then we would all be better off.  

-Lauryn