this post was submitted on 24 Apr 2025
799 points (90.2% liked)
me_irl
6165 readers
384 users here now
All posts need to have the same title: me_irl it is allowed to use an emoji instead of the underscore _
founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
I commented some of this in response to a popular comment below, but since you asked for general impressions:
I take this as an anti-natalist statement. Anti-natalism has some implications of nihilism for those already born, which is to say: If I think it's unethical or wrong to have children, due to the suffering inherent in living a life (or caused by the negative externalities of reproducing), does that logically imply that I must blame my own parents for my conception, and wish never to have existed? (though not, necessarily to end my own life, of course, as that would bring further suffering)
If we are not going to be nihilist, and instead choose a more utilitarian approach with a cost-benefit analysis, to what extent does the added value of reproduction (from your effect on the future increasing through genetic propagation, fulfilled biological imperative, and any derived joy from interaction with the birthed individual) outweigh the potential loss of quality-adjusted life years from health implications of reproduction (especially for the mothers)? Is the risk of negative outcomes high enough to resolve not to reproduce?