Ethical dilemma: What makes life worth living? - Douglas MacLean
TED-Ed・4 minutes read
Life on the planet depends on Nuronium for cognition and memory, but a pollutant threatens fertility and extinction. Scientists propose using Polixate from a passing comet as an alternative, risking creativity and culture but preserving life and happiness.
Insights
- Nuronium is essential for normal cognition, creativity, and long-term memory retention on the planet, but its current source emits a pollutant threatening fertility and potentially leading to extinction within 100 years.
- Dr. Taylof's group prioritizes preserving culture, history, and life's meaningfulness by advocating for the continuation of Nuronium, while Dr. Kahan's faction supports switching to Polixate to ensure the species' survival and enhance total happiness, despite the loss of creativity and memories.
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Recent questions
What is the primary energy source for cognition and memory on the planet?
Nuronium
What is the potential threat to life on the planet within 100 years?
Extinction
What is the proposed alternate energy source from a passing comet?
Polixate
What are the arguments presented by Dr. Taylof's group regarding the energy source?
Preserve culture and history
What is the stance of Dr. Kahan's faction on the energy source debate?
Preserve life and total happiness
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Summary
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Critical choice: Nuronium or Polixate for survival
- Life on your planet depends entirely on Nuronium for normal cognition, creativity, and long-term memory retention. However, the Nuronium source has been compromised, emitting a pollutant that threatens fertility and could lead to extinction within 100 years.
- Scientists have identified an alternate energy source, Polixate, from a passing comet that won't cause infertility but will result in the loss of creativity, memories, and culture. The comet will only remain in orbit for a few days, and a decision must be made to either continue using Nuronium or harvest Polixate.
- Dr. Taylof's group argues for continuing with Nuronium to preserve culture, history, and the meaningfulness of life, believing that without memories and imagination, future generations would lead meaningless lives. Dr. Kahan's faction advocates for switching to Polixate to preserve life, emphasizing the value of existence and the improvement of total happiness for the species.
