Hi Steve, you wrote:But what if it is sorrow, rather than joy that ends up being maximized—either in an individual or in the human race as a whole?
As we well know, it is often sorrow that does end up being maximized. That is why people aim for joy and attempt to minimize sorrow as much as possible, both for themselves and for others.
What argument could be given to assure us that even the miserable life has value in itself?
A considerable number do not consider that life has intrinsic value apart from joy. That may explain the many suicides. Also the quality of life can be such that very ill people are in constant pain. That explains why in Canada, there is serious consideration being given to doctor-assisted death.
Without God in the picture, it becomes only a matter of narcissistic hubris.
I certainly disagree with that statement. Most people don't have God in their life's picture, and I have seen many such non-believers who are anything but narcissistic. Indeed, many of them have risked their personal lives in order to save others.
WIn such a case, would it not be best to kill or exterminate the whole race, in order to minimize sorrow?
For the simple reason that there is joy and potential joy throughout the human race, and for those who don't have it, others have helped make it available to them. Indeed that seems to be the very essence of Jesus' instructions to his disciples. For instance:
So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them. (Matt 7:12)
What, other than the fact that it violates a divine purpose, would make this, on balance, a bad deal or immoral?
If it could be shown that there is
nothing but sorrow and pain in the world, perhaps the elimination of that sorrow and pain throughout the world, through the extermination of the human race would relieve all that sorrow and pain. But as you know, this is mere speculation; that state of affairs has
never existed in the world. There is always joy in the world and potential for joy. It is for that reason that life itself is intrinsically valuable.