Shoot for Earth: MedSci Missions 3

A few minutes later, they were quietly watching Troy sleep. “Are you sure he wants to exist like this? Is he able to enjoy living? Can he accomplish anything?”
Scott winced. “Well, you’re blunt, aren’t you? I must say, he’s degenerated a lot since how he was when we headed out. He’s been through changes he did to himself that gave him a tail”
“Why would he do that?” Savna asked.
“He wanted to give himself enough Fbar genes to stave off the worst effects of his infectious DNA illness. It worked, but the Fbar tail was a side effect. Anyway, what, in your mind is the purpose of anyone existing? Just to accomplish something?”
Savna thought. “No, it’s not that simple. First, the individual should have a sense of satisfaction about their presence in the universe. I guess that’s a feeling, more than a concrete set of accomplishments.”
“So, if someone is unable to get anything useful done but they’re happy, you’re ok with them being alive?”
“Yes, I think so. I mean, someone has to get things done so that there’s food and shelter, but we have to allow for illness and old age. Plus, in this age, we have many machines and energy sources that can allow a being to have a basic existence without being a burden on others.
“So it’s about the individual’s happiness more than there place in society?”
“A contentment in their general existence. On Fabar that usually goes along with a desire to contribute to society.”
“Yes, on Earth, too,” Scott assured her.
“Good. I’m guessing no Earth person always has positive emotion at any randomly tested time, so by happiness I mean a deep-felt satisfaction with their general existence.”