Thisstudyisaboutwhatmattersinsurvival--aboutwhatrelationtoafutureindividualgivesyouareasonforprudentialconcernforthatindividual.Forcommonsensethereissucharelationanditisidentity,butaccordingtoParfitcommonsenseiswronginthisrespect.Identityisnotwhatmattersinsurvival.InWhatMattersinSurvival,DouglasEhringarguesthatthisParfitianthesisdoesnotgofarenough.Theresultisthehighlyradicalview“SurvivalNihilism,“accordingtowhichnothingmattersinsurvival.Althoughwegenerallyhavemotivatingreasonstohaveprudentialconcern,andperhapsevenindirectnormativereasonsforsuchconcernsthereisnorelationthatgivesyouabasic,foundationalnormativereasonforprudentialconcern.ThisviewgoesbeyondwhatParfitcallsthe“ExtremeView.“Itisthe“MoreExtremeView“andisineffectsomethinglikeanerrortheoryaboutprudentialreasonasaspecialkindofnormativereason.
