Trigger words: rational (3)
Indicator sentences: Also, I'm not sure exactly what you mean by "rational."
Negotiation parts: An argument that humans need to produce offspring to continue existence is perfectly rational and very strong, possibly more so than the rational arguments against reproducing. By rational, I mean that it is personally beneficially, socially beneficially or existentially meaningful. It is not personally beneficial because of the cost and the time investment. It is not socially beneficial because of the environmental impact. It is not existentially meaningful because eventually the human species will die or of course, the universe will ultimately end, so what's the point of "continuing the species" when we KNOW it is futile. Furthermore, if we know it is futile, any joy derived from it is superficial and purely egotistical. The human instinct to reproduce is not rational, as we currently understand reason.
Trigger words: reason
Indicator sentences: Please define "how we currently understand reason" since I get the feeling we are using different definitions.
Negotiation parts: I provided a "working" definition of it when I said personally beneficial, socially beneficial, or existentially meaningful. More specifically, to reason, would be to do the mental math of tabulating those categories. Now, I'm being careful here because I am hoping not to devolve into a basic philosophy course discussion of the long history of reason and the many different definitions it had. that's not the definition I would use but I'll work with it for now.
Trigger words: beneficial
Indicator sentences: Personally beneficial: This depends on how you define benefit
Trigger words: existentially meaningful
Indicator sentences: Existentially Meaningful: I have no idea what this criteria is supposed to mean.
Trigger words: meaning
Indicator sentences: You are challenging my definition of meaning.
Negotiation parts: I argue that meaning has to come from existential purpose (ULTIMATELY meaningful). You argue that meaning comes from purpose within the context of human life. I think you are implying that my inclusion of existential purpose in meaning is actually nonsensical. It is as if I called a square a circle. How can we ask the question: is this existentially meaningful, when meaning is by definition within the context of human life? My immediate reaction to this, after I've parsed it out, is that subjective/contextual meaning is not as meaningful to me (or humans in general) as objective, existential, ultimate meaning.