Antinatalism

Antinatalism is the idea that it is better not to create new people. Antinatalists believe that bringing a person into the world can cause harm, even if the parents have good intentions.

This view does not hate life or people. It is about care, responsibility, and reducing suffering.

Suffering is a normal part of life

All human lives include pain.

People can feel:

• physical pain, such as illness or injury
• emotional pain, such as fear, sadness, or loneliness
• loss, such as the death of loved ones

Some people suffer much more than others. No parent can fully control this. A child may be born with illness, face violence, or live in poverty.

Because suffering is certain, creating a new life always creates new pain.

A person cannot consent to being born

A person cannot agree to be born.

Before birth, a person does not exist. They cannot choose life or refuse it. This means the decision is made for them.

Antinatalists believe it is wrong to make a serious choice for someone else when that choice includes risk and harm.

Not being born does not harm anyone

If a person is not born, they do not feel loss or sadness.

They do not miss pleasure, because they do not exist. They do not suffer, because they do not exist.

But if a person is born, they can be harmed.

Because of this, antinatalists say it is safer and kinder not to create a life.

Love for children, not hate

Antinatalism does not mean hating children.

Many antinatalists care deeply about children. They may support:

• adoption
• helping people who already exist
• improving life for current children

They believe care should focus on reducing suffering, not creating new needs.

Conclusion

Antinatalism argues that:

• life always includes suffering
• birth happens without consent
• not being born causes no harm

For these reasons, antinatalists believe that choosing not to have children can be a compassionate and responsible choice.

This view is about empathy and caution, not anger or despair.