“Pro-natalists” do, although that tends to be more associated with specific ideas that the world needs more people like them (often linked to religious or nationalistic ideas) than EA. The average parent tends to think that bringing up a child is [one of] the most profound ways they can contribute to the world, but they’re thinking more in terms of effort and association than effect size.
I also think it’s pretty easy to make a case that having lots of children (who in turn have descendants) is the most impactful thing you could do based on certain standard longtermist assumptions (large possible future, total utilitarian axiology, human lives generally net positive) and uncertainty about how to prevent human extinction but I’m not aware of a strand of longtermism that actually preaches or practices this and I don’t think it’s a particularly strong argument.
“Pro-natalists” do, although that tends to be more associated with specific ideas that the world needs more people like them (often linked to religious or nationalistic ideas) than EA. The average parent tends to think that bringing up a child is [one of] the most profound ways they can contribute to the world, but they’re thinking more in terms of effort and association than effect size.
I also think it’s pretty easy to make a case that having lots of children (who in turn have descendants) is the most impactful thing you could do based on certain standard longtermist assumptions (large possible future, total utilitarian axiology, human lives generally net positive) and uncertainty about how to prevent human extinction but I’m not aware of a strand of longtermism that actually preaches or practices this and I don’t think it’s a particularly strong argument.