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04-15-2017 | #1 | |||||||||||
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David Benatar sums up antinatalism in 200 words for Oxford University Press interview
In conjunction with the publication of Benatar's new book, the OUP blog has just published a new interview with him, conducted by the philosophy editor at OUP USA. Among other items of interest, right in his opening responses Benatar gives a remarkably succinct and lucid précis of antinatalism:
I'm of the mind that these two paragraphs make for a nicely quotable explanation for anyone who might ask. I wish I had had them on hand three weeks ago when I was introducing some students to Ligotti and sketching the current cultural circumstance surrounding his writing, worldview, and reputation, for which purpose I showed them the car conversation scene from season 1 of True Detective, which of course cribs from both Ligotti and Benatar. | |||||||||||
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04-15-2017 | #2 | |||||||||||
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Re: David Benatar sums up antinatalism in 200 words for Oxford University Press inter
That sums it up particularly well! I found myself trying to explain antinatalism to someone not long ago and I resorted to quoting Ligotti, who I guess has Benatar beat by 192 words: "nonexistence never hurt anyone, and existence hurts everyone." I did deliberately avoid bringing up True Detective, though...
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5 Thanks From: | dr. locrian (04-15-2017), matt cardin (04-15-2017), miguel1984 (04-16-2017), Mr. Veech (04-17-2017), ToALonelyPeace (04-19-2017) |
04-17-2017 | #3 | |||||||||||
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Re: David Benatar sums up antinatalism in 200 words for Oxford University Press inter
I like Benatar, but I'm not all that keen on his negative utilitarianism. As a matter of fact, I don't really care for his asymmetry argument for a number of reasons, even though I know the argument itself is meant to appeal to our everyday understanding of pain and pleasure. Also, while I agree with him most days of the week regarding the notion that life is inherently meaningless, whether or not it actually is meaningless is something which can't be proven. It's important to understand that, I believe, given the fact that antinatalism is for the most part grounded in an atheistic worldview.
In other words, the question concerning the veracity of antinatalism as the cure for humanity's condition presupposes a legion of other questions, questions of a metaphysical and/or theological nature. SIDE NOTE: I've made it quite clear that I consider myself an antinatalist on this website before. However, it occurred to me recently that there are some here who have children, so I will be less vocal about the matter. To be more specific, I will be sensitive to those here who might have children, assuming this subject is brought up in the future. There's a rather nasty habit amongst antinatalists who continually use the pejorative label "breeder" for those who choose to have children. I don't want to be associated with that. | |||||||||||
"In a less scientific age, he would have been a devil-worshipper, a partaker in the abominations of the Black Mass; or would have given himself to the study and practice of sorcery. His was a religious soul that had failed to find good in the scheme of things; and lacking it, was impelled to make of evil itself an object of secret reverence."
~ Clark Ashton Smith, "The Devotee of Evil" |
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04-18-2017 | #4 | |||||||||||
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Re: David Benatar sums up antinatalism in 200 words for Oxford University Press inter
Who cares? Would knowing it make life more tolerable? | |||||||||||
Who provideth for the raven his food?
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Thanks From: | Mr. Veech (04-18-2017) |
04-18-2017 | #5 | |||||||||||
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Re: David Benatar sums up antinatalism in 200 words for Oxford University Press inter
But if a person believes there is no tenable framework for understanding suffering, then that person might be interested in what Benatar has to say regarding the matter. | |||||||||||
"In a less scientific age, he would have been a devil-worshipper, a partaker in the abominations of the Black Mass; or would have given himself to the study and practice of sorcery. His was a religious soul that had failed to find good in the scheme of things; and lacking it, was impelled to make of evil itself an object of secret reverence."
~ Clark Ashton Smith, "The Devotee of Evil" |
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5 Thanks From: | Arthur Staaz (04-19-2017), cannibal cop (04-19-2017), miguel1984 (04-19-2017), Speaking Mute (04-19-2017), ToALonelyPeace (04-19-2017) |
04-19-2017 | #6 | |||||||||||
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Re: David Benatar sums up antinatalism in 200 words for Oxford University Press inter
What I'm saying is: A.) Benatar's claim that our lives (and suffering) "lack ultimate purpose" is not necessarily true (nor even necessarily knowable); B.) It's largely irrelevant anyway to the antinatalist position, at least as I understand it, that forcing someone into a life of suffering (or subjugation to an "ultimate purpose", if you want) is morally questionable, at best. | |||||||||||
Who provideth for the raven his food?
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04-19-2017 | #7 | |||||||||||
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Re: David Benatar sums up antinatalism in 200 words for Oxford University Press inter
Very few people are going to be persuaded by Benatar's ethical position. I'm sure he's aware of that. But he has to write books in order to stay relevant in the world of academia, i.e., stay employed. I'm not, of course, accusing him of having some crude ulterior motive. | |||||||||||
"In a less scientific age, he would have been a devil-worshipper, a partaker in the abominations of the Black Mass; or would have given himself to the study and practice of sorcery. His was a religious soul that had failed to find good in the scheme of things; and lacking it, was impelled to make of evil itself an object of secret reverence."
~ Clark Ashton Smith, "The Devotee of Evil" |
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Thanks From: | miguel1984 (04-20-2017) |
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200, antinatalism, benatar, david, interview, oxford, press, sums, university, words |
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