Best to possibly not be: A prudential argument for antinatalism
1Centre for Biomedical Ethics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Bioethics
|June 26, 2024
Summary
This study explores death ethics and voluntary active euthanasia, introducing concepts of choiceworthy nonexistence (CNE) for potential people. It argues that existence is likely a harm, suggesting reasons against procreation due to potential suffering.
Area of Science:
- Ethics
- Philosophy of Life
- Bioethics
Background:
- The euthanasia debate offers insights into the choiceworthiness of continued existence.
- Academic support for voluntary active euthanasia provides a foundation for ethical analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the ethics of death, focusing on euthanasia and the concept of choiceworthy nonexistence (CNE).
- To extend CNE principles to potential lives, termed foetal-CNE (fCNE), arguing against procreation.
- To propose that existence is likely a harm, necessitating a re-evaluation of reproductive decisions.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of voluntary active euthanasia arguments.
- Development of the concept of choiceworthy nonexistence (CNE).
- Extension of CNE to potential persons (fCNE) and its implications for procreation.
Main Results:
- Identification of cases of choiceworthy nonexistence (CNE).
- Application of CNE to potential lives, suggesting foetal-CNE (fCNE).
- Argument that all existence is likely a harm due to unknowable future suffering.
Conclusions:
- Prudential reasons exist against bearing children.
- Potential offspring are more likely to experience lives not worth living.
- The ethical framework suggests caution in procreation based on potential harm.
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