Contemporary Anti-Natalism

Anti-natalism is the view that it is wrong to create a new human life when one could avoid doing so, as it would be bad for the one created. This book explores these and related issues concerning the evaluative question of how to judge the worthwhileness of lives and the normative question of what basic duties entail for the creation of new lives.

Format: Hardback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 10 November 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The question of whether it is morally permissible to create new human lives has been a topic of debate among philosophers in recent years. Some argue that it is wrong to create a new life when one could avoid doing so, as it would be bad for the one created. This view is known as "anti-natalism." Contributors to this volume present various arguments in support of anti-natalism, including the claim that agents have a prima facie duty to prevent suffering, that it is immoral to violate another's right not to be harmed without their consent, and that it is a serious wrong to exploit the weakness of a poorly off being to become a biological parent.

On the other hand, some argue against anti-natalism, claiming that many of our lives are not so bad and in fact are quite good. They argue that the logic of anti-natalism absurdly entails pro-mortalism, the view that we should kill off as many people as possible.

This book explores these and related issues concerning the evaluative question of how to judge the worthwhileness of lives and the normative question of what basic duties entail for the creation of new lives. Except for one chapter, all the chapters in this book were originally published in the South African Journal of Philosophy.

In conclusion, the question of whether it is morally permissible to create new human lives is a complex and multifaceted one. While some argue that anti-natalism is true based on the duty to prevent suffering, others argue that it is absurd and entails pro-mortalism. This book provides a valuable exploration of these and related issues, offering insights into the ethical considerations involved in the creation of new lives.

Weight: 530g
Dimension: 246 x 174 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032350332