Current Events > Is it ethical to have a child?

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Wow

In this day in age when society is entering a climate crisis, I dont believe it is fully ethical

Unless you're certain that your child can be raised in a safe, comfortable environment and family dynamic, with as little financial stress as possible, don't have children.

CRON posted...

Unless you're certain that your child can be raised in a safe, comfortable environment and family dynamic, with as little financial stress as possible, don't have children.

Seems kinda problematic, basically saying only the rich should have kids?

WaterLink posted...

Seems kinda problematic, basically saying only the rich should have kids?

?????

theres plenty of poor families that live without financial stress because they live in cheap rural towns they can afford

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

You are making the choice to create a life. This life will be sentient and can feel physical and emotional pain. This life would not have existed if you hadn't made it.

Sure you can try to give it a good life if you have the means, but if you don't then this life will suffer. Even if you have the means to give the child a good life, suffering is inevitable. So you're essentially creating something when you know it will suffer.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]


Is it always equivalent though? Since everyone will suffer regardless of your financial situation or privilege? So if you are in a situation where you can't financially support a child the child's suffering will increase, or if you're not mentally ready, or if your child comes out with physical or mental disabilities?

It doesn't seem equal to me. It seems to be leaning more towards it being wrong to have children on average since most people don't have the means to properly raise a child. At least in the states where there is lack of support. I feel it's more ethical if you live in a country with strong child support.

it is evil

A kid born today will probably live to see the ocean become too acidic to support life. The oceans supply 80% of the world's oxygen.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/headed-for-a-sixth-mass-extinction-mit-geophysicist-warns-oceans-are-on-the-brink/
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.1700906

Yes, to live is to experience suffering. But the goal is to have enough joy to outweigh the suffering.

A lot of people probably shouldnt have kids.

The argument about it being environmentally responsible to not have children is absurd, as all you are doing is removing an environmental advocate from the future (assuming you instill values in them). The argument could be made that it would be more environmentally friendly to adopt, but it seems like most people who are against having children dont want to adopt either.