On 4/11/2012 8:53 PM, Rupert wrote:
> On Apr 12, 12:23 am, "Dutch" > wrote:
>> "Rupert" > wrote
>>
>>> Most ethicists would agree that equal consideration of interests is
>>> the default starting position.
>>
>> For whom? My default starting position for consideration is my own
>> interests, followed by my immediate family including my pets, my community,
>> my country, mankind, higher level animals, rare plant species, lower level
>> animals, the planet, and the economy is implied in there somewhere.
>>
>> The default starting position for every organism in existence is its own
>> interests, that is the way the world works.
>
> That is something that requires defence from the moral point of view.

That has been well defended countless times, and you are aware of the
defenses.