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Reproductive Cloning

Reproductive cloning is the process of producing a genetically identical copy—a clone—of an entire organism. While clones can be produced by splitting an early embryo—similar to what happens naturally with identical twins—cloning of adult animals is usually done by a process called somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT).
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Predicting the Effectiveness of Population Replacement Strategy Using Mathematical Modeling

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Published on: July 4, 2007

Global Horrendous Evil: A Cautionary Tale Against Procreation.

Tianxiang Lan¹

¹Centre for Biomedical Ethics, National University of Singapore, Singapore.

Asian Bioethics Review

|April 16, 2026

Summary

Procreation as a collective human practice inevitably causes severe suffering, making it morally wrong. This argument challenges traditional views by focusing on global-scale harm and the unavoidable nature of such evil.

Keywords:

Antinatalism Horrendous evil Moral enhancement Procreation

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Area of Science:

Philosophy
Ethics
Global Crises

Background:

The morality of procreation is debated, especially considering human suffering.
Global crises intensify the ethical questions surrounding bringing new life into the world.

Purpose of the Study:

To argue that collective human procreation inherently causes widespread, severe suffering.
To demonstrate that this suffering is unavoidable, even with societal progress.
To assert that the harms of procreation outweigh any benefits, rendering it morally questionable.

Main Methods:

Philosophical argumentation
Ethical analysis of collective action
Examination of suffering in the context of civilization's progress

Main Results:

Procreation as a collective endeavor perpetuates global-scale, life-ruining evil.
This horrendous evil is unavoidable, irrespective of optimistic assumptions about civilization.
The negative outcomes of procreation cannot be compensated by positive experiences of the procreated.

Conclusions:

Procreation is deemed pro tanto morally wrong due to the unavoidable perpetuation of severe suffering.
The study shifts focus from individual acts to collective procreative practices and their global impact.
The analysis supports antinatalism as a serious philosophical consideration in the ethics of life creation.