yes, if midlife crises often led to suicide, we would try to cure that. this is because we regard our society as imperfect. therefore, its constituents may also be confused. therefore, we are obligated to change their minds, to protect them from themselves.
the culture has no such luxury. when its citizens decide that life is not worth living, the culture has no recourse but to trust them. it cannot blame their material circumstance, or brain chemistry, or [...].
one may argue that so many choosing this demise is, by itself, a clear indictment of the culture. (i cannot disagree, but i have not yet been 500 years old, myself.) should they not design more and more varied amusements? (but, haven’t they?) should they not seek to steer individuals away from this path? (but, do they not?) should they not invite the bored to explore the galaxy? (but, does the galaxy have what these people seek?)
to the culture, a mind is inviolable. we can accuse them of narcissism—believing a mind should be forcibly changed would implicitly admit that the culture may be unable to raise cogent, self-reflective beings. the culture is unable to admit this latter point, and so must consider intrusion into a mind to be reserved for warfare.
rhetorically: should we as the culture harass the elench? should we sway those who wish to sublime? should we deny genar-hofoen his affronter body? (for that matter, should we destroy the affront?)
this argument begs the question.
yes, if midlife crises often led to suicide, we would try to cure that. this is because we regard our society as imperfect. therefore, its constituents may also be confused. therefore, we are obligated to change their minds, to protect them from themselves.
the culture has no such luxury. when its citizens decide that life is not worth living, the culture has no recourse but to trust them. it cannot blame their material circumstance, or brain chemistry, or [...].
one may argue that so many choosing this demise is, by itself, a clear indictment of the culture. (i cannot disagree, but i have not yet been 500 years old, myself.) should they not design more and more varied amusements? (but, haven’t they?) should they not seek to steer individuals away from this path? (but, do they not?) should they not invite the bored to explore the galaxy? (but, does the galaxy have what these people seek?)
to the culture, a mind is inviolable. we can accuse them of narcissism—believing a mind should be forcibly changed would implicitly admit that the culture may be unable to raise cogent, self-reflective beings. the culture is unable to admit this latter point, and so must consider intrusion into a mind to be reserved for warfare.
rhetorically: should we as the culture harass the elench? should we sway those who wish to sublime? should we deny genar-hofoen his affronter body? (for that matter, should we destroy the affront?)
should we be so grabby?