https://philosophynow.org/issues/11 9/Derek_Parfit_1942-2017

>>9324200

All I want in life is for someone to find my monkish, reclusive ways admirable and to write a brief, heartfelt eulogy for me that no one reads.

The universe, it seems, has not seen it fit to give me even that.

F

>>9324200
>Pencil-pushing academics really only have each other, but at least they have that.
?

No they don't, academic philosophers dedicate a hefty chunk of their research to demolishing each other, Its one of the few ways to rise in the ranks.

>>9324935
no one ever really gets "demolished" in the journals. everyone who gets published has thought the debates through to the point where they all know where and why the others disagree too well not to be courteous. usually

>>9324200
Who's this guy? Give me a primer.

>>9326291
The article in the OP is pretty solid as a primer. It glosses over the population ethics stuff, though, which is a shame because it seems like some of his most interesting and influential stuff.

>>9324935
In my experience, many of even the most bitter academic debates end pleasantly. Elbow/Bartholomae is a perfect example.

Hell, the person you spend half your career trying to take down might be the one to eulogize you. Again, the academics have that, at least.

Met this guy once at an effective altruism event. Pretty incisive and very kind personally.

>>9324200
The one death of the last year or two that made me really sad.

>>9328815
That sounds amazing. Where was the event? Would have loved to meet him.

>>9329817

He gave a talk at the EAGx in Oxford last year, I think on the nonidentity problem, and was around some of the social events there too. He'd been at events before though I think - pretty sure MacAskill bought him along to things from the beginning.

I was indeed very lucky to meet him. We can take some comfort from the fact he'd made peace with death through his panpsychism, though I don't really understand why people feel that way.