opinion of antinatalism

[© tweed]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antinatalism

"Antinatalism is a philosophical position that assigns a negative value to birth, standing in opposition to natalism."


I was fascinated when I came upon this article, as I've said things like this for a long time.  I find it incredibly difficult to justify the bringing of a self-aware being into the world, given the certainty of suffering and death, and the ephemeral nature of happiness and pleasure.

[Free Speech Enjoyer]

I suppose it depends on how much value one assigns happiness and suffering, but I don't see how this philosophy can be at all consistent with Christian teachings.  Is life not meant to be embraced, the good and the bad?  Even the worst forms of human suffering are meant to have some inherent value to them - namely, the betterment of the heart.  And indeed, if antinatalism is the 'right' philosophy, why do we insist on living?  That, to me, goes in violation of human nature.  It is basic instinct to want to reproduce, and I think that any large scale ramifications from overpopulation would eventually be driven out by evolutionary factors.  That's more of a shot in a dark than a scientific projection, of course.

[Mopsus]

With major proponents this pleasant-looking, how could my opinion be anything other than positive? 

[Robert California]

Just awful.

[© tweed]

I suppose it depends on how much value one assigns happiness and suffering, but I don't see how this philosophy can be at all consistent with Christian teachings.  Is life not meant to be embraced, the good and the bad?  Even the worst forms of human suffering are meant to have some inherent value to them - namely, the betterment of the heart.

this is all fine for us who are already living to rationalize, to believe, etc.  but I don't feel it my place to tell anyone else that they absolutely should feel this way, that their suffering will be worth it in the end.  whether they want to feel that way (or not) is their business.

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the drive to survive presupposes existence.  the natalism/antinatalism debate takes place a step before that, in discussing the act that brings other humans into the world without their consent.

[LastVoter]

Just awful.

Only when practiced by others, somebody needs to subsidize my retirement.

[Sic Semper Fascistis]

Pretty shortsighted. Natality is never an inherently good or bad thing, it's all a matter of context.

[Robert California]

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the drive to survive presupposes existence.  the natalism/antinatalism debate takes place a step before that, in discussing the act that brings other humans into the world without their consent.

Really, though. Who are we to deny anyone's coming into the world? In case anyone out there really wanted to be born, shouldn't we be breeding 24/7 so as to allow that to happen?

[Mr. Morden]

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the drive to survive presupposes existence.  the natalism/antinatalism debate takes place a step before that, in discussing the act that brings other humans into the world without their consent.

Really, though. Who are we to deny anyone's coming into the world? In case anyone out there really wanted to be born, shouldn't we be breeding 24/7 so as to allow that to happen?

I'll get right on it….

[© tweed]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

the drive to survive presupposes existence.  the natalism/antinatalism debate takes place a step before that, in discussing the act that brings other humans into the world without their consent.

Really, though. Who are we to deny anyone's coming into the world? In case anyone out there really wanted to be born, shouldn't we be breeding 24/7 so as to allow that to happen?

we can't know what they would want, which is the whole point: in the absence of consent, we have to decide one way or another, on our own.  antinatalism holds that we should opt to not bring anyone into the world.  you are free to build an opposing case.