Antinatalism, Extinction, and the End of Procreative Self-Corruption

This Element is an analysis of the past, present, and future of antinatalism and philosophers' efforts to deny this.

Matti Häyry (Author), Amanda Sukenick (Author)

9781009455305, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 14 March 2024

84 pages
23 x 15 x 0.5 cm, 0.14 kg

This Element provides an exploration of antinatalism, the view that assigns a negative value to reproduction. First, the history of Western philosophy as a two-and-a-half millennia reaction to antinatalist sentiments. Human life has no obvious meaning and philosophers have been forced to build elaborate theories to invent imaginary purposes. Second, analysis of the concept of antinatalism in the light of human extinction. If people stop having children, the species will cease to exist, and this prospect has prompted attempts to find alternatives and excuses. Third, outlines a normative view defending antinatalism both theoretically and practically. If it is wrong to bring about suffering in the absence of redeeming meaning and if it is possible to create meaning only by imposing a pronatalist mentality upon children before they can make up their own minds, parents morally corrupt themselves by procreating. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

1. Introduction
2. Western philosophy as a struggle against antinatalism
3. Antinatalism and extinction
4. Procreative self-corruption
References.

Subject Areas: Child & developmental psychology [JMC]