The Harm of Existence

Oh my. South African scholar David Benatar will argue in his forthcoming book that we are better off never being born in the first place.

David Benatar argues that coming into existence is always a serious harm.… 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 (at the earlier stages of gestation). Anti-natalism also implies that it would be better if humanity became extinct.

I suppose at least he's trying to be consistent, though why abortion at the later stages of gestation should be any different isn't obvious from the blurb. Guess I'll have to read the book, huh? Boy, I can hardly wait.

And I do wonder--hoping it is neither uncharitable nor scandalous to do so, and not in fact wishing the author to carry through on the thought experiment--why, if existence is really so awful, he does not now proceed to off himself.