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Better Never to Have Been
- The Harm of Coming into Existence
- Narrated by: Dennis Kleinman
- Length: 7 hrs and 26 mins
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Better Never to Have Been
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Summary
Most people believe that they were either benefited or at least not harmed by being brought into existence. Thus, if they ever do reflect on whether they should bring others into existence—rather than having children without even thinking about whether they should—they presume that they do them no harm. Better Never to Have Been challenges these assumptions. David Benatar argues that coming into existence is always a serious harm. Those who never exist cannot be deprived. However, by coming into existence one does suffer quite serious harms that could not have befallen one had one not come into existence. Drawing on the relevant psychological literature, the author shows that there are a number of well-documented features of human psychology that explain why people systematically overestimate the quality of their lives and why they are thus resistant to the suggestion that they were seriously harmed by being brought into existence. The author then argues for the "anti-natal" view—that it is always wrong to have children—and he shows that combining the anti-natal view with common pro-choice views about fetal moral status yield a "pro-death" view about abortion. Although counter-intuitive for many, that implication is defended, not least by showing that it solves many conundrums of moral theory about population.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 26-04-24
Incredibly Insightful
At first it seems like a ridiculous idea, but very soon it becomes immediately apparent that this could be one of if not the most important question facing humanity, one which society at large will probably never be ready for. It is extremely well structured and clearly written, and would recommend for anyone with an open mind. Chapter 2 was the most insightful to me, and although highly technical in places, it made a lot of sense. This book probably caused me to reflect on my worldview more than any other. Hats off to the author for creating this underrated gem.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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- David H
- 02-07-24
Exceptional dry topic
This is essentially an academic text which most people will find far too dry. Honestly, I’d say this is unsuitable for general listeners.
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- jordan david crago
- 22-03-23
A compelling argument, but a bad conclusion
In his book 'Better Never to Have Been,' David Benatar pushes two main arguments for the conclusion that procreation is unethical. The asymmetry argument is convoluted and abstract, and therefore hard to regard with anything more than intellectual interest. The low quality of life argument, however, is actually fairly compelling. Well, at least for me, which may be a problem, because I have a history with depression. His argument is that when you put aside our optimism bias, we find that most or all people probably live lives which contain more bad than good. But while this may be true, it's also true (something I've learnt through my practice of CBT), that we have strong negative biases, like catastrophisation and frustration intolerance. So his psychological argument seems inconclusive at best. However, he only briefly mentions what seems to me a much better argument for anti-natalism: the risk argument. Even if we can't be sure whether all or most people live bad lives, it cannot be denied that some people do; some others, albeit far fewer, live extremely bad lives marked by intense suffering. Can it be right to impose that risk on another person merely because one wants to be a parent?
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2 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 19-05-23
Logically sound
Well structured book, make sure to read it with an open mind due to the inherently controversial nature of his conclusion.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Richard Tol
- 23-10-24
outdated
Benatar writes as if Jevons, Menger, and Walras never were, turning asymmetries into lexicographies. Anybody writing after 1871 should know better.
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