For folks who really, actually, truly think that there’s a difference between murder and not preventing a death when the means and knowledge to do so are available, I don’t think there’s anything you can say, since a logical consequence of this belief is that there’s no moral imperative to do anything when an asteroid is about to kill everyone.
But for those who merely profess this belief for in-group reasons, you can pull the conversation sideways, talking about how you’d probably want to prevent a small rock from falling on your head, and how if there was a really big rock falling on a bunch of people’s heads, you’d want to work together to prevent it from falling on your head as well as theirs, and if there was a really big rock, you’d do the same, and if there were an asteroid you want to work together with the whole world, only the asteroid is metaphorical.
Show them that their own belief system already prioritizes existential risk.
For folks who really, actually, truly think that there’s a difference between murder and not preventing a death when the means and knowledge to do so are available, I don’t think there’s anything you can say, since a logical consequence of this belief is that there’s no moral imperative to do anything when an asteroid is about to kill everyone.
Doesn’t follow. Even if the two are different, this doesn’t necessarily mean that there’s no moral imperative in regards to the latter, it may just be a different or lesser moral imperative.
For folks who really, actually, truly think that there’s a difference between murder and not preventing a death when the means and knowledge to do so are available, I don’t think there’s anything you can say, since a logical consequence of this belief is that there’s no moral imperative to do anything when an asteroid is about to kill everyone.
But for those who merely profess this belief for in-group reasons, you can pull the conversation sideways, talking about how you’d probably want to prevent a small rock from falling on your head, and how if there was a really big rock falling on a bunch of people’s heads, you’d want to work together to prevent it from falling on your head as well as theirs, and if there was a really big rock, you’d do the same, and if there were an asteroid you want to work together with the whole world, only the asteroid is metaphorical.
Show them that their own belief system already prioritizes existential risk.
Doesn’t follow. Even if the two are different, this doesn’t necessarily mean that there’s no moral imperative in regards to the latter, it may just be a different or lesser moral imperative.
You’re right. My mistake.