The best way to eliminate all suffering in the world would be to eliminate all sentient life. If there were no living things capable of feeling pain, then there would be no pain. If it were possible to do this in a painless way, perhaps by means of a huge atomic explosion, then, by the principle of negative utilitarianism, this would be the morally right action. Even if a certain amount of pain were involved in the process, the long-term benefits in pain elimination would probably outweigh it. Yet this conclusion is hardly acceptable. At the very least negative utilitarianism needs to be reformulated so as to avoid it.
Philosophy: The basics
What do the penultimate "it" and the last "it" refer to?
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Even if a certain amount of pain were involved in the process, the long-term benefits in pain elimination would probably outweigh it . it = the amount of pain involved in the process Yet this conclusion is hardly acceptable. At the very least negative utilitarianism needs to be reformulated so as to avoid it .
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Even if a certain amount of pain were involved in the process, the long-term benefits in pain elimination would probably outweigh it.
it = the amount of pain involved in the process
Yet this conclusion is hardly acceptable. At the very least negative utilitarianism needs to be reformulated so as to avoid it.
it = the unacceptable conclusion
CJ