I’m not so sure that the total amount and aggregation of “happiness” would be increased if the baby is saved. It’s probably true that saving the baby would generate more happiness, because they will be happy for more time than the adult would have been. However, I think it’s also true that allowing the adult to perish could result in significantly more suffering due to all the people that have a personal relationship with them. I also think that avoiding suffering is much more important then creating happiness. So, while I’m happy to create happiness, I am hesitant to trade the expected average happiness of a future person for the suffering of all the adult’s friends and relatives.
I’m not so sure that the total amount and aggregation of “happiness” would be increased if the baby is saved.
It’s probably true that saving the baby would generate more happiness, because they will be happy for more time than the adult would have been.
However, I think it’s also true that allowing the adult to perish could result in significantly more suffering due to all the people that have a personal relationship with them.
I also think that avoiding suffering is much more important then creating happiness. So, while I’m happy to create happiness, I am hesitant to trade the expected average happiness of a future person for the suffering of all the adult’s friends and relatives.