As at the time of writing this introduction, the world population is at 7,699,672,300.
As at the time of writing this introduction, the current average population increase is estimated at 82 million people per year.
As at the time of writing this introduction, the Earth is not getting any bigger.
Howdy!
My name is Marcus. I am a young, budding moral philosopher from Singapore who, in true moral-philosopher-fashion, finds himself kept awake at night by moral problems that plague the world he lives in.
Me, doing moral philosopher things at at the Singapore Undergraduate Philosophy Conference 2018.
Riddle me this:
- What rational reasons do we have to desire genetically-related children?
- What rational reasons do we have to act upon our desire for genetically-related children?
These are, no doubt, extremely broad and vague questions of considerable theoretical complexity. Perhaps to help, we would be well-served by contemplating these questions under more concise contexts:
- What are the consequences of bringing a child into the world? Is birthing a child necessarily good?
- What kind of world will my child grow up in?
- Do I have a moral duty to create children?
- Can the Earth sustain further population growth?
My answer, here, is that we have a moral duty against birthing children. That is, we ought to avoid conception at all costs, and all conceptions should be terminated as much as possible.
Source: https://educateinspirechange.org/alternative-news/this-is-the-most-insanely-overcrowded-train-in-the-world/
This is the thesis of antinatalism. In its broad sense, antinatalism (or anti-natalism) states that it is morally wrong to birth children.
Naturally, one can imagine that antinatalists differ in the strength of their claims and the theoretical geneses of their claims. For instance, one may claim that it is merely morally preferable to avoid conception, but pregnancies should not be terminated as abortion is morally impermissible. On the other hand, another may claim that it is absolutely morally impermissible to bring a child into this world, and such an outcome should be avoided at all costs.
This blog project focuses on a subtype of antinatalism that I shall refer to as Strong Ecological Antinatalism. Ecological antinatalism argues that we ought not to have children from ecological or environmental reasons. A ‘strong’ antinatalism is one that argues that it is morally impermissible to make children (not just that it is morally preferable not to make children). Combined, my thesis may be defined as:
Strong Ecological Antinatalism: It is morally impermissible to have children because of the impact that further population growth will have on the Earth.
I leave my introduction here as I encourage all viewers to peruse the materials that I shall leave in this blog. Arguments aside, this blog shall also serve as a one-stop information resource for all things related to Strong Ecological Antinatalism. This includes introducing readers to the empirical geneses of my claims (e.g., how population growth has, and shall continue to, impact the Earth), as well as alternatives to childbirth (e.g., adoption).
I also endeavour towards a collaborative and informal tone in this blog. I strongly encourage questions and discussion on the subject matter insofar as they are held in a civil, respectful manner.
Enjoy!