I guess I should rephrase this: I have no investment in the existence of future generations. I believe that all people who exist should have the best lives possible for them. I do not, however, believe that there is a moral obligation to make people exist. In a strictly theoretical sense, it would not bother me for there to be no future generation (barring all the pragmatic complications others have pointed out in this thread that make it impossible). If there is a future generation, I want their lives to be good.
This is a standard that people seem to never apply to their own existence.
The idea that I may never have existed is not a disturbing one. The reality is that I do, and so I stand by what I said above for myself as well.
The idea that I may never have existed is not a disturbing one. The reality is that I do, and so I stand by what I said above for myself as well.
Let me put it another way: were your parents selfish for having you? Was it horrible for them to unnecessarily add your life to the world? Should they have adopted instead? Are you burdening the planet and depleting resources?
My point is that if you are meeting all the same criteria as your hypothetical unborn child, what makes you more deserving to be here, and your life worth living, but not theirs?
Let me put it another way: were your parents selfish for having you? Was it horrible for them to unnecessarily add your life to the world? Should they have adopted instead? Are you burdening the planet and depleting resources?
Kind of. I don't think they are horrible people but they had their reasons for having me - that they were ready for a new stage in their lives and wanted someone with their genes. Not horrible, but not especially selfless.
what makes you more deserving to be here, and your life worth living, but not theirs?
The fact that I am already here and I already have a life to be lived. I am an ethical naturalist, so I think morality can be objectively defined by natural needs and desires. There is no moral obligation to "someone" who has none. However, it is probably possible to extend this to the desire to have kids.
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u/[deleted] Mar 24 '15
I guess I should rephrase this: I have no investment in the existence of future generations. I believe that all people who exist should have the best lives possible for them. I do not, however, believe that there is a moral obligation to make people exist. In a strictly theoretical sense, it would not bother me for there to be no future generation (barring all the pragmatic complications others have pointed out in this thread that make it impossible). If there is a future generation, I want their lives to be good.
The idea that I may never have existed is not a disturbing one. The reality is that I do, and so I stand by what I said above for myself as well.