David Benatar wants to stop you from becoming a parent. The South African philosopher believes it is morally wrong to bring babies into the world. But the intensely private and polarising Benatar describes anti-natalism as philanthropic, not misanthropic, extending the belief to humans breeding dogs, sheep and other sentient beings.
“While creating children does have an impact ‘on the world’, my main concern is the impact that procreating has on those who are thereby brought into existence,” he said. “They will suffer and die – all of which could be avoided without cost to them.” South African philosopher David Benatar believes it is morally wrong to bring babies into the world.
Credit: Getty Images Not surprisingly, Benatar’s ideas prompt strong reactions from some opponents. “The most common objections are least considered ones – including the flippant and callous suggestion that anti-natalists should just kill themselves,” he said. But he said many people are comforted to learn they are not alone in “thinking that we ought not to be creating new sentient beings”.
Benatar will discuss anti-natalism in The Case for Not Having Children at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas at Carriageworks on August 24 and 25, sharing the stage with Australian philosopher and father of three Matt Beard, who admitted the encounter may be awkward. “I think Benatar would argue that my kids’ lives will be more bad than they are good,” he said. Beard, the Vincent Fairf.