I’m a fairly devoted anti-natalist, and I have to say that this ethic has been misunderstood—deeply, woefully so. Firstly, it always has been universal, all sentience included (and so far, it seems that the more humans are born, the less other animals are born). Benatar only focused on our own species because there were reasons to discuss this area in particular. Secondly, human extinction is a purely theoretical scenario, and one that isn’t even the core of anti-natalism.
The core is just the negative value of coming into existence. And the basis is suffering reduction by means of prevention. It isn’t some cult hellbent on human extinction (even though some of such groups can emerge out there to parasitize on some actual ethics). We wouldn’t feel as devastated by the prospects of extinction, but to assume that ending the existence of humanity is our obligation? No, this’d be too much. At least for a contemporary anti-natalist who stays true to the suffering-focused nature of the ethic and is a tad familiar with contemporary SFE research in general (as opposed to someone who is mostly into justifications for their everyday hate). There’s this immense ocean of non-human suffering around us. And if not we, then who would take care of it?
Thank you for that clarification, I apologize if I misrepresented the movement as a whole. The main reason I listed anti-natalism was because you could argue from that perspective that stopping human extinction is bad, not that anti-natalism necessarily implies that. The same goes for virtually all of these arguments.
Excellent question! I wouldn’t, but only because of epistemic humility—I would probably end up consulting with as many philosophers as possible and see how close we can come to a consensus decision regarding what to practically do with the button.
If it was just me (and maybe a few other similar-minded people) in the universe however, and if I was reasonably certain it would actually do what it said in the label, then I may very well press it. What about you, for the version I presented for your philosophy?
I’m a fairly devoted anti-natalist, and I have to say that this ethic has been misunderstood—deeply, woefully so. Firstly, it always has been universal, all sentience included (and so far, it seems that the more humans are born, the less other animals are born). Benatar only focused on our own species because there were reasons to discuss this area in particular. Secondly, human extinction is a purely theoretical scenario, and one that isn’t even the core of anti-natalism.
The core is just the negative value of coming into existence. And the basis is suffering reduction by means of prevention. It isn’t some cult hellbent on human extinction (even though some of such groups can emerge out there to parasitize on some actual ethics). We wouldn’t feel as devastated by the prospects of extinction, but to assume that ending the existence of humanity is our obligation? No, this’d be too much. At least for a contemporary anti-natalist who stays true to the suffering-focused nature of the ethic and is a tad familiar with contemporary SFE research in general (as opposed to someone who is mostly into justifications for their everyday hate). There’s this immense ocean of non-human suffering around us. And if not we, then who would take care of it?
Thank you for that clarification, I apologize if I misrepresented the movement as a whole. The main reason I listed anti-natalism was because you could argue from that perspective that stopping human extinction is bad, not that anti-natalism necessarily implies that. The same goes for virtually all of these arguments.
If you could push a button and all life in the universe would immediately, painlessly, and permanently halt, would you push it?
Would you cleanse all the universe with that utilitronium shockwave which is a no less relevant thought experimemt pertaining to CU?
Excellent question! I wouldn’t, but only because of epistemic humility—I would probably end up consulting with as many philosophers as possible and see how close we can come to a consensus decision regarding what to practically do with the button.
If it was just me (and maybe a few other similar-minded people) in the universe however, and if I was reasonably certain it would actually do what it said in the label, then I may very well press it. What about you, for the version I presented for your philosophy?
Teo sums it up pretty well here: https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/JnHeeTGAohMFxNbGK/peacefulness-nonviolence-and-experientialist-minimalism