The Harm of Coming Into Existence
Ratings5
Average rating2.8
Most people believe that they were either benefited or at least not harmed by being brought into existence. Thus, if they ever do reflect on whether they should bring others into existence—-rather than having children without even thinking about whether they should—-they presume that they do them no harm. Better Never to Have Been challenges these assumptions. David Benatar argues that coming into existence is always a serious harm. Although the good things in one's life make one's life go better than it otherwise would have gone, one could not have been deprived by their absence if one had not existed. Those who never exist cannot be deprived. However, by coming into existence one does suffer quite serious harms that could not have befallen one had one not come into existence. Drawing on the relevant psychological literature, the author shows that there are a number of well-documented features of human psychology that explain why people systematically overestimate the quality of their lives and why they are thus resistant to the suggestion that they were seriously harmed by being brought into existence. The author then argues for the 'anti-natal' view—-that it is always wrong to have children—-and he shows that combining the anti-natal view with common pro-choice views about foetal moral status yield a 'pro-death' view about abortion (at the earlier stages of gestation). Anti-natalism also implies that it would be better if humanity became extinct. Although counter-intuitive for many, that implication is defended, not least by showing that it solves many conundrums of moral theory about population.
Reviews with the most likes.
This is a book which decides on an ultimatum of rules about things we do not know like death or the functionality of life in the universe, the reason why we came to have a consiousness in the first place (Doubt any parents manifested that). It provides a lot of topics to think about and it does this on the pretext that it will reduce harm which is not a bad intention. The author supposes that they are correct and have the answer.
It is written in a redundant, repetitive way. The asymmetry provided even if true cannot account for things we haven't experienced, it cannot answer how life interacts with whatever is beyond life.
Possibly having a society which entertains this mindset could bring more tolerance, understanding of pessimism and bring people to want to reduce suffering more, put blame on people who cannot handle this experience less.