Benatar’s Arguments for Anti-Natalism
摘要
This chapter offers a critical overview of the anti-natalist arguments located in the work of David Benatar, a leading contemporary proponent of anti-natalism. Benatar’s arguments include the Asymmetry Argument, the Quality of Life Argument, and the Misanthropic Argument. After outlining each argument, I consider potential objections and replies, before exploring whether they are at least prima facie consistent with Christianity. In the final section, I consider a frequent objection that has been brought against Benatar’s anti-natalism in general which is that it entails pro-mortalism and/or speciecide. I argue that this objection fails. My general conclusion is that the first three arguments are prima facie consistent with Christianity. Benatar’s arguments are hardly uncontroversial, but I hope to have shown there are plausible replies to the objections on offer such that the arguments cannot be dismissed out of hand as having been refuted.