What You're Rejecting When You're Expecting.
1University of Massachusetts Lowell, 883 Broadway St., Dugan Hall 200L, MA, 01852, Lowell, USA. Blake_Hereth@uml.edu.
Journal of Bioethical Inquiry
|April 3, 2023
Summary
This study argues that weak pro-natalism (WPN) collapses into strong pro-natalism (SPN), suggesting procreation may be obligatory. This challenges reproductive liberty norms and aligns WPN with anti-natalism.
Area of Science:
- Moral Philosophy
- Ethics
- Reproductive Ethics
Background:
- Weak pro-natalism (WPN) posits procreation is generally permissible.
- Strong pro-natalism (SPN) asserts procreation is generally obligatory.
- Anti-natalism (AN) claims procreation is always impermissible.
Purpose of the Study:
- To defend two collapsing arguments against weak pro-natalism (WPN).
- To demonstrate that WPN collapses into strong pro-natalism (SPN).
- To establish epistemic parity between WPN and anti-natalism (AN) regarding reproductive liberty.
Main Methods:
- Distinguishing between the good of procreation and procreative potential.
- Arguing for an obligation to assist needy children.
- Presenting two collapsing arguments based on resource preservation for future offspring.
Main Results:
- The first argument shows that justifying non-assistance by preserving resources for actual offspring necessitates eventual procreation, making it obligatory (SPN).
- The second argument, focusing on procreative potential, suggests agents must value this potential, implying an obligation towards pro-reproductive attitudes or behaviors (SPN).
- Both arguments indicate that procreation or procreative potential are insufficient justifications for not assisting needy children.
Conclusions:
- Weak pro-natalism (WPN) is philosophically unstable, collapsing into strong pro-natalism (SPN).
- This collapse creates parity between WPN and anti-natalism (AN) concerning reproductive liberty.
- Agents may have moral obligations towards procreation or pro-reproductive attitudes.
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