Is it ok to gamble on someone else's life?

[Darkover]

Life is about trying to make the most out of the cards you are dealt by birth and by every day things we don't control; whether or not you want to gamble and risk losing your time and energy on hopeless endeavors is really up to you.

I'm talking about the infamous gambling argument of antinatalism.

Which is basically that you are gambling with someone else's life when you decide to give birth. The new life may or may not have a good life.

The one's who will have a good life will naturally never agree that their life is a negative, but the ones who are suffering will try to commit suicide but then they will find out that suicide is very scary and painful and will soon realize that they wouldn't have to go through this suffering in the first place if only they didn't existed.

Now,

Is it morally okay to bring new life into this world just because there is a chance that they will have a good life?

Is it morally okay to ignore the bad outcomes just for the sake of the good outcomes when the stacks are someone's life?

 

[PrisonPlanetBreak]

Those are some really good questions, and I reckon the answers will vary from one person to another. In my opinion the answer is a definite no. I don't think it's right to gamble with somebody else's life. However, if you are willing to take this gamble, then at best you should also mentally prepare yourself for that life to end before yours does. What I mean by this is that, too many parents cannot fathom the fact that their child may die before they do, be it suicide or accident. It's just something they don't want to think about. You see it on TV almost every day. Countless of accidents, and every now and then suicides. But the general reaction is to brush it off and say "it can happen to others, but not to me". Which is kinda hypocritical, isn't it?

They should already prepare mentally for such an event, when you get your driver's license for example. It's usually a big event in every teen's life, but it's never regarded from the p.o.v. that every time you get in the car, it may be your last. People have died behind the wheel in my city at speeds of 60 KM/h (40 MPH). They were likely just driving back home from work. Accidents happen every day. If you take on some dangerous sports as a hobby, again you are applauded and praised for it. Most parents think that their life will 100% end before that of their child.

With that mentality, they should not be in position to gamble. If it's a suicide instead of an accident, I don't think it changes my analogy, but feel free to pitch in. I definitely don't want and will not have a child, but if I ever had one, I'd be more than aware they are in control of their death if they choose suicide, and their life can definitely end before my own.​

 

[Praestat_Mori]

"Moral" is an invention of our human society and we have the abilities to think about it and discuss it. Modern societies should put in consideration whether a new life will have to suffer or not and whether it is necessary to procreate. But again it's not that easy to decide whether a new human brought into life will have it good or bad. The future is unknown.

From the natural and evolutionary point of view, if all living creatures who procreate to keep their species alive thought that their decendants "have it worse" or have to "suffer" life would have came to an end long ago.

 

[penguinl0v3s]

To say it's gambling is a bit oversimplified. Not everyone has the same chances. There's a high chance that someone born in a family with no mental illness, parents in a healthy relationship, with high income will turn out happy. Also, if genetics were in play, you as a (maybe) good parent could change the environment your kid grows up in. The good parent believes that they can raise a happy child with little doubts.

Is it morally okay to ignore the bad outcomes just for the sake of the good outcomes when the stacks are someone's life?

To say no implies negative utilitarianism, which the philosophy field generally disregards as valid because there's no way to prove that negative is more important than positive and should be prioritized.

 

[Forever Sleep]

I have anti-natilist views, so my viewpoint is biased really. Of course- I'd say it wasn't fair. Still- that's largely because I feel like my life has been shit and I have a very cynical, pessimistic outlook on the world in general.

I have friends with children and it's hard to judge the thought process. Did they even consider what would happen if the child was born with a disability? Did they worry their child might be bullied or become depressed? Did they consider what would happen if one parent died? Did they think about their own family tree and possible genetic flaws? I'm not so sure parents do think about these things. I think they maybe just hope for the best and reckon they'll deal with these problems if they happen to crop up.

That seems reasonable when it's your own life. Say- taking on a new job role. You try and predict what could go wrong and if you'll be able to handle it. Your employer is also doing that during the interview process of course. But- that's a mutual risk- you both agree to take. With a child- it's different. You're chucking them into a situation they will have to comply to at the end of the day.

They'll get some choices of course but the world likely won't be their oyster! And they will develop their own way of looking at it. One you won't have full control over. It doesn't seem fair (to me) to chuck an independent, sentient living being in to this world with the expectation it will perform in a certain way but ultimately- that's the reality of it. We don't have freedom in this world. To a varying extent- children are born into a system of slavery. It's down to luck, genes, wealth whether they will be happy in that system and not even realise or care that they are a slave to it- or- they may well realise and resent you for it!

Maybe it's my own negative bias but I feel like so many have children to make their own lives feel complete. I'm sure they want that child to be happy too. You'd hope they'd do all they possibly could to ensure that. But I get the sense that that is the main drive. It's a natural one of course and likely one that is very difficult to deny. Still- we're thinking animals. I just wish people would put more thought into it really. Or at the very minimum- don't be surprised if your child decides by itself that it doesn't like the world you threw it in to and wants to leave. Don't bring sentient independent life here and then feel upset and angry because it isn't living up to your expectations.

 

[SilentSadness]

The problem is that when someone procreates, their child is guaranteed to suffer. It's unacceptable to cause someone to suffer unnecessarily.

 

[FuneralCry]

Imposing existence in the first place is the source of all suffering, problems and torment so I believe it could never be acceptable, in fact such a thing is a horrifying crime to me. I find it disturbing how humans enslave and burden others with the ability to suffer endlessly in this hellish reality where they cannot even easily cease existing in peace when they wish to. The only compassionte outcome is to not procreate and let this species finally go extinct as procreation causes immense harm, I see the existence of life as a horrific tragedy in the first place.

 

[walkingdead2023]

Your parents brought you to this world not to suffer! This is life without having children there is no life. None knows the future so I don't think your mom wanted to have a child who will end up writing this about her. I'm sure raising you wasn't easy carrying you in her tummy for 9 months wasn't easy taking care of you while teething, etc. life is full of happy people not everyone is miserable like you. I want to ctb but I love my parents so much they did a lot for me and I hope they forgive me one day

 

[MatrixPrisoner]

Like any other form of gambling, the odds need to be considered. And any prospective parent in their right mind would be able to see that the odds of a child having a good life is painfully low. Especially these days. People need to stop haphazardly having children.

 

[cold_severance]

morals are arbitrary, so neither is right. you also forget that there is also the animal instinct to procreate. humans could blabber all they want about good will or whatnot, for the majority this is the main cause, no morals involved. sure they may invent some reason to make themselves feel good or smh, but in its base its always just primal instincts.