Every ethical argument for having children is dominated by other options that are more effective.1. If you’re worried about population issues, just donate $10k to bednetsThat’s about the equivalent of two extra children existing in the world.It also does more good2- If you’re worried about “idiocracies” and think your genes would make the difference, donate your sperm/eggs, and call it a day.(That also addresses the whole “you owe it to your ancestors” logic)3- If you think you “owe it” to your parents, consider how unethical it is for somebody in a position of power to force an uninformed, non-consenting minor to sign a binding, life long contract.This is what it would mean to think that children, by dint of being born, owe their parents grandchildren.4- If you think it’s “selfish” to not have children, that’s just incoherent.Having children then neglecting them is selfish. Not having children, there’s nobody to be selfish to.Unless you try to appeal to it making the world a better place to have children, and then you’re back to donating bednets and sperm/eggs, which is the more effective option for making the world better.
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