Richard Yetter Chappell is a lecturer in philosophy at the University of York in the UK. He received his PhD in philosophy from Princeton University in 2012.
Here’s a question for any interested readers: Can you consistently hold that (i) it’s a good thing for the world, all things considered, that you exist, and yet (ii) it would be a bad thing for the world, all things considered, to bring another child to exist in similar circumstances to your own…? Or should we generally only oppose procreation (opposing it for moral rather than personal reasons, I mean) if we also regard our own existence as, objectively speaking, lamentable?
Is it OK to have kids?
Richard ChappellHere’s a question for any interested readers: Can you consistently hold that (i) it’s a good thing for the world, all things considered, that you exist, and yet (ii) it would be a bad thing for the world, all things considered, to bring another child to exist in similar circumstances to your own…? Or should we generally only oppose procreation (opposing it for moral rather than personal reasons, I mean) if we also regard our own existence as, objectively speaking, lamentable?