Go back
Is it selfish to have children?

Is it selfish to have children?

Debates

invigorate
Only 1 F in Uckfield

Buxted UK

Joined
27 Feb 02
Moves
257438
Clock
13 Sep 11
Vote Up
Vote Down

With finite resources does this world need that many more humans?
Is it more selfish not have children and lead your life on exactly your own terms?

E

Joined
12 Jul 08
Moves
13814
Clock
13 Sep 11

With the world's limited resources is it selfish to live even one more hour?

Even one more second?

JS357

Joined
29 Dec 08
Moves
6788
Clock
13 Sep 11

Originally posted by invigorate
With finite resources does this world need that many more humans?
Is it more selfish not have children and lead your life on exactly your own terms?
It can be leading your life on exactly your own terms to have children.

But at this moment in history I would say, don't have your own children, adopt or otherwise contribute to the well being of those already born.

sh76
Civis Americanus Sum

New York

Joined
26 Dec 07
Moves
17585
Clock
13 Sep 11
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by invigorate
With finite resources does this world need that many more humans?
Is it more selfish not have children and lead your life on exactly your own terms?
If you're not perpetuating humanity, then who gives a damn whether the resources are used up? Why do we care about there being resources other than to service ourselves and our posterity?

Sleepyguy
Reepy Rastardly Guy

Dustbin of history

Joined
13 Apr 07
Moves
12835
Clock
13 Sep 11
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by sh76
If you're not perpetuating humanity, then who gives a damn whether the resources are used up? Why do we care about there being resources other than to service ourselves and our posterity?
Why do you hate Mother Nature? 🙂

n

The Catbird's Seat

Joined
21 Oct 06
Moves
2598
Clock
13 Sep 11
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by sh76
If you're not perpetuating humanity, then who gives a damn whether the resources are used up? Why do we care about there being resources other than to service ourselves and our posterity?
Keynes said much the same. "In the long run, we'll all be dead."

g

Pepperland

Joined
30 May 07
Moves
12892
Clock
14 Sep 11
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by invigorate
With finite resources does this world need that many more humans?
Is it more selfish not have children and lead your life on exactly your own terms?
Is it more selfish not have children and lead your life on exactly your own terms?

Children are the vehicles for our selfish genes, any path that deviates from the goal of reproduction will be less selfish surely.

JS357

Joined
29 Dec 08
Moves
6788
Clock
14 Sep 11
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by generalissimo
[b]Is it more selfish not have children and lead your life on exactly your own terms?

Children are the vehicles for our selfish genes, any path that deviates from the goal of reproduction will be less selfish surely.[/b]
So sexual reproduction is a compromise, suggesting that there is a more selfish entity involved than the individual. Is it the species?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asexual_reproduction

shavixmir
Lord

Sewers of Holland

Joined
31 Jan 04
Moves
89790
Clock
14 Sep 11

Originally posted by invigorate
With finite resources does this world need that many more humans?
Is it more selfish not have children and lead your life on exactly your own terms?
Is it selfish for a monkey to have little-monkeys?
No. Of course not.

You are a vehicle for your DNA. And your DNA gets shorter each year you live, so the DNA wants you to procreate to be able to survive.

And that's about the sum of it all.

w

Joined
02 Jan 06
Moves
12857
Clock
14 Sep 11
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by invigorate
Is it more selfish not have children and lead your life on exactly your own terms?[/b]
Hilarious!!

rwingett
Ming the Merciless

Royal Oak, MI

Joined
09 Sep 01
Moves
27626
Clock
14 Sep 11
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by shavixmir
Is it selfish for a monkey to have little-monkeys?
No. Of course not.

You are a vehicle for your DNA. And your DNA gets shorter each year you live, so the DNA wants you to procreate to be able to survive.

And that's about the sum of it all.
There aren't 7 billion+ monkeys that are destroying their environment.

How successful do you think we'll be in propagating our DNA when the planet becomes uninhabitable? In the long term, overpopulation is a losing strategy.

shavixmir
Lord

Sewers of Holland

Joined
31 Jan 04
Moves
89790
Clock
14 Sep 11
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by rwingett
There aren't 7 billion+ monkeys that are destroying their environment.

How successful do you think we'll be in propagating our DNA when the planet becomes uninhabitable? In the long term, overpopulation is a losing strategy.
Did you tell your DNA that?

What did it reply?
And that, my friend, is the problem.

rwingett
Ming the Merciless

Royal Oak, MI

Joined
09 Sep 01
Moves
27626
Clock
14 Sep 11

Originally posted by shavixmir
Did you tell your DNA that?

What did it reply?
And that, my friend, is the problem.
Then why doesn't any other species permanently overpopulate their environment? They're all getting the same messages from their respective DNA that we are. The problem is not the DNA, but rather because we control our own food supply we have exempted ourselves from any external limiting factors on population growth. My entry in the sermon competition in the spirituality forum deals with this very topic.

shavixmir
Lord

Sewers of Holland

Joined
31 Jan 04
Moves
89790
Clock
14 Sep 11
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by rwingett
Then why doesn't any other species permanently overpopulate their environment? They're all getting the same messages from their respective DNA that we are. The problem is not the DNA, but rather because we control our own food supply we have exempted ourselves from any external limiting factors on population growth. My entry in the sermon competition in the spirituality forum deals with this very topic.
It still doesn't make having children selfish.

rwingett
Ming the Merciless

Royal Oak, MI

Joined
09 Sep 01
Moves
27626
Clock
14 Sep 11
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by shavixmir
It still doesn't make having children selfish.
It does if you are aware of the consequences and could prevent them.

Cookies help us deliver our Services. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn More.