“Having Children is Wrong” | Antinatalism

Few things are more natural than reproduction. It is pretty understandable, and without this urge we would have been wiped out a long time ago. But some philosophers have challenged us to justify this. And the antinatalists have an even stronger proposition - that having children is morally wrong.

00:00 Antinatalism
02:20 Potential Harm and Potential Pleasure
08:55 The Harm of Being
15:38 Reproduction, Conception, and Extinction
21:35 Intuition and Rationality

[antinatalope]

No one was harmed in the not-making of my children. In fact, no one even noticed.

[smorebytes]

"This video would be several hours long" Who said this would be a bad thing?

[matthewforte]

Life isn't a gift, you can return a gift

[interestinghandle]

As someone who stubbed his toe the other day, I can confirm I resent my mother for bringing me into this world in which one such as myself can so easily stub his toe

[authaire]

The curse of my bloodline (cripplingly debilitating mental illness) ends with ME.

[TheDemonx]

Just like Idiocracy. The people who keep having kids are frequently the people who shouldnt be having kids

[Hatunrumioc]

People have no problem talking to new borns, even though they can't understand or reply, but what I've never heard them say is "congratulations for being born, you're going to have a beautiful life and you are so lucky to be here, this is a wonderful place." Kinda wild when you think about it. They usually just refer to how the presence of the baby makes them feel emotionally i.e "you're so cute!"

[oriofftxz]

"I didn't have children, I didn't pass on the legacy of our misery to any creature."
- posthumous memories of Brás Cubas - Machado de Assis.

[Xizax]

As an antinatalist one of the most annoying things to explain to people is the idea of not wanting to exist is not the same as wanting to die. I want to minimalize suffering and I know that if I die it'll bring suffering to my loved ones negating the whole point.

[friedrichfreigeist]

I am always astonished, when I bring up this topic, how quickly discussion derails into accusing someone of being "insane" or "stupid", without adressing the actuall points.
Nice summary, you did not wind up in this trap.

[LoganBai-gvys]

I think the reason why antinatlism is so unnatractive is because it hinges on you having to accept that life is almost inherently bad. To accept the arguments conclusion is a pretty big leap for most and it does indeed feel like a doom and gloom situation

[mishka_bo_bishka]

im not antinatalist, but it’s soo annoying when people say that you need to have kids “or else”. so many great thinkers, artists, performers, etc who didnt have kids yet carol from columbus ohio thinks it’s the only way to be a good human being

[theboredprogrammer]

I'm a nonconsensual product of an illicit affair between a mistress and a married man. The universe showing mercy to my lineage by making me infertile. The lineage ends with me.

[Tennethums]

I’m 51. Never been married and never had kids. Life couldn’t be better.

[obsidian]

I'm 33 single with no kids and trust me I stayed single because this world is too evil to bring a child!!! I don't want them to suffer so I'd rather suffer alone!!

[slowrunnr]

Ironically, the people I know and have met (and seen on TV) who are AGGRESSIVELY preachy about “life is hard! That’s just life! Stop whining! You work hard, you get by, you make sacrifices, occasionally get something semi-worthwhile, you die! Deal with it! Don’t whine, just sacrifice your dreams, work your ass off, and retire!” Are the same people who aggressively say “you NEED to have children! It’s wrong to not have children! You’re not an adult until you have children, and it’s mandatory you become an adult!”

[AlexHdz]

There is no non-selfish/non-self-centered reason to bring someone into the world.

[chrislister]

I pondered this specifically within the context of Christianity or Islam: if someone genuinely believes that most people will go to hell for all eternity, than isn't the ethical choice to not intentionally have children, risking that your children will end up on hell?

[ingenuity]

Humans are not animals who procreate only as an instinct. Humans can think and rationalise that bringing children into a life of suffering is not a good decision. Humans have reached the level of advancement to be able to prevent conception. So humans HAVE the CHOICE of not having children.

[abdulmonum]

During this video I saw an ad for appeal to donate for children in Gaza and I think it's enough to make a decision about Anti-Natalism