The more advanced a form of life is, the more it suffers. The more extinction us humans cause, the more future suffering we prevent

What is it going to activate instead?

My point was that emotional pain is built on the physical pain pathways which are more ancient. It's an extra layer that's been, over time, slapped on as a way to regulate our social behavior.

We are social animals. You get sad and lonely if you're without friends or family, which hopefully encourages you to go look for some. You cringe when you remember embarrassing yourself in front of others, which hopefully encourages you to not do the same again, in order to have more success with improving your status within the group.

It's not more "noble" or "worse" than physical pain, or whatever it is you're suggesting.

Even if this were true, how would it help your case?

It is true that animals can and do experience suffering by the nature of things. "My case" is that if we can stop new ones from existing, it would be fine to do so.

How does it help "your case" that humans experience emotional pain in addition to physical? Does it contradict whatever I said in the opening post? Help me see how.

/r/unpopularopinion Thread Parent