Avalon and Esperance are so close that their constellations are mostly the same. Philippe Rochefort reflects:
"Three or four parsecs hardly count in the galaxy.
"Does a life? I must believe so." (p. 87)
Two questions:
Does a life count to living beings? Yes.
Does a life count to anything other than living beings? I do not see how it can but why should it? That we "count" to ourselves surely suffices? It is we who decide whether to stay alive.
Rochefort subscribes to a world-view that projects the source of value onto a reality outside conscious organisms.
Electric light is valuable whether its source is supernatural or material, as are brains that generate consciousness.
4 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
Of course human lives and the lives of other beings on other worlds matter! I was reminded of Matthew 10.19-31: "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's leave. But as for you, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows."
Ad astra! Sean
Drat! I meant Matthew 29-31, not 19-31.
Sean
Very powerful sayings in Matthew.
Kaor, Paul!
Many trenchantly powerful sayings in Matthew. And one pericope, Matthew 22.15-22, has had enormous consequences for political philosophy, among many other things.
Ad astra! Sean
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