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Should Anti-Natalists Strive to Improve the World?
1Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Canada. philosophy@kirklougheed.com.
Journal of Bioethical Inquiry
|May 18, 2026
Summary
Anti-natalism, the view that procreation is impermissible, does not preclude environmental concern. While it may lead to extinction, anti-natalists can still value existing lives and present environmental reasons.
Area of Science:
- Ethics
- Environmental Philosophy
- Procreative Ethics
Background:
- Anti-natalism argues against procreation, posing ethical dilemmas regarding future generations.
- A recent challenge questions anti-natalists' commitment to environmental preservation due to their stance on future existence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To refute the argument that anti-natalism undermines environmental care.
- To explore the coherence of anti-natalist environmentalism and broader world improvement efforts.
Main Methods:
- Philosophical argumentation
- Ethical analysis
- Conceptual clarification of anti-natalism and its implications
Main Results:
- Anti-natalism enables extinction but does not necessitate aiming for it.
- Anti-natalists can value continuing existing lives and find present reasons for environmental care.
- The argument against anti-natalist environmentalism may require rejecting the Principle of Double Effect.
Conclusions:
- Anti-natalism is compatible with environmental concern and striving to improve the world.
- Challenges to anti-natalism based on environmentalism or general world improvement are not significant.
- Anti-natalists can coherently advocate for environmental protection and other positive global changes.
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