That was a much more philosophical analysis than I expected, but then it is the New Yorker.
There is something to be said about the fact that by the Golden Rule, we should only categorically avoid having children if we would rather have never been born (and while that’s a popular meme, I doubt people who remain alive actually believe that).
I don’t know. I think, if given the option, I probably would prefer never having been born. And before you ask why I haven’t killed myself, there is a big difference between ending your life and never having existed in the first place. Though I have considered it, and probably will one day.
Regardless, I would absolutely hate to grow up as a child in the current state of the world, and considering it’s only getting worse it seems crueler and crueler to have kids with every passing year.
That was a much more philosophical analysis than I expected, but then it is the New Yorker.
There is something to be said about the fact that by the Golden Rule, we should only categorically avoid having children if we would rather have never been born (and while that’s a popular meme, I doubt people who remain alive actually believe that).
I don’t know. I think, if given the option, I probably would prefer never having been born. And before you ask why I haven’t killed myself, there is a big difference between ending your life and never having existed in the first place. Though I have considered it, and probably will one day.
Regardless, I would absolutely hate to grow up as a child in the current state of the world, and considering it’s only getting worse it seems crueler and crueler to have kids with every passing year.