Any argument that curing AIDS has any more "value" than eating ice cream, is nothing more than your subjective interpretation of what value is.
Wrong. A basic psychology course, a business course, or knowledge of intrinsic and extrinsic motivations and values confirms this. Across the world, spanning many races, creeds, religions and beliefs, there are many crimes that are naturally wrong no matter how you look at it. Murder and rape are such examples. However, running a red light might not mean much in a country that only has two cars. Apply what I'm saying about aids/hiv and what you're saying about ice cream to the example I just gave you about crime. Now think about this, would most reasonable people believe curing aids has more benefit to society than eating ice cream?
CAN WE SURVIVE WITHOUT MUSIC OR EATING ICE CREAM?
CAN WE SURVIVE IF AIDS WERE TO EVER GET OUT OF CONTROL?
Unless you have some Divine Master Value List hidden under your bed, value CANNOT be anything but subjective.
Wrong. A basic psychology course, a business course, or knowledge of intrinsic and extrinsic motivations and values confirms this.
Where is anyone coming up with this arbitrary value system if not from their own perspectives?
You are wrong if you don't think the value of curing AIDS is subjective.
It isn't my own perspective as my personal feelings are outweighed by what most reasonable people would think about the cure of aids. Saying the cure for aids/hiv has more value than you eating ice cream or listening to music is not as subjective as you've lead yourself to believe. My personal take on such a cure does not detract from the benefits it offers to society. My personal choice to not eat ice cream, or not listen to music, is my personal preference. Who is harmed or potentially harmed by me not eating ice cream or listening to music? Who is harmed or potentially harmed by aids not being cured?
Does curing AIDS have value to someone with AIDS = yes
Does curing AIDS have value to someone without AIDS = maybe
Does curing AIDS have value to Ants = no
Does curing AIDS have value to another life form in another galaxy = no
Does curing AIDS have value to someone with AIDS = Yes
Does curing AIDS have value to someone without AIDS = Yes. It means they have less disease to worry about, their family members may be cured, they can probably get health insurance, etc. The question is, do they acknowledge how the cure may directly or indirectly impact them?
Does curing AIDS have value to Ants = no
That right there is foolish because we are talking about helping HUMANITY. Since ants lack the ability to reason as we do, including them in your position is nothing more than a fallacy.
Does curing AIDS have value to another life form in another galaxy = no
We aren't talking about another life form in another galaxy because we don't know A.) if other life forms exist and B.) if they are impacted by aids.
If I decide that eating ice cream has more value that curing AIDS, then it does for me.
Intrinsic V.S. extrinsic values and motivations. Take the time to read up on them, and humanism, because we will continue to go back and forth without gaining any ground until you do so.
Furthermore, like I mentioned earlier, why does the preservation of our species even necessarily deserve a positive value?
Because the deserving punishment of the few should not be distributed to the many.
We are extremely destructive, and from the perspective of our planet and the majority of the other species we share it with, the extinction of the human race would be a positive thing.
We are not extrememly destructive. A certain percentage of the population is destructive, and you can most likely attribute this to technology and expansion. BTW, when did you become the spokesmen for the planet and the majority of other species? Unless you are the 2008 version of Noah, or went to Dr. Doolittles school of Animal Communications, you have a very limited point that can only have weight if one looks at extinction, global warming etc. However, animals themselves can cause extinction, so don't make it seem as if everything would be cheeky for the animals if we weren't here.
