How to Define Antinatalism?: A Panel Discussion 

**All the definitions from the panelists** 20:38 David Benatar gives his definition Antinatalism: abstract noun: the view that it is morally wrong to bring sentient beings into existence. Antinatalist: noun: Somebody who espouses antinatalism. adjective: Of or relating to a person, policy, practice, law, attitude, etc. that discourages or reduces the reproduction of sentient beings. 23:07 Karm Akerma gives his definition i) The term antinatalism encompasses attitudes, movements, and moral theories that advocate the non-procreation and non-creation of entities (biological organisms or artificial non-organismic entities) capable of suffering. ii) The term antinatalism encompasses attitudes, movements, and moral theories that advocate the non-procreation and non-creation of entities (biological organisms or artificial non-organismic entities) capable of suffering. Antinatalism takes on a concise meaning against the backdrop of denatalism. While the latter advocates a mere _reduction_ in the population of a country or an animal population, antinatalism stands for a general end to reproduction. iii) The term antinatalism encompasses attitudes, movements, and moral theories that advocate the non-procreation and non-creation of entities (biological organisms or artificial non-organismic entities) capable of suffering. Antinatalism takes on a concise meaning against the backdrop of denatalism. While the latter advocates a mere _reduction_ in the population of a country or an animal population, antinatalism stands for a general end to reproduction. Thus, antinatalism takes into account the disappearance of the human race by abstention from procreation with many antinatalists also advocating the extinction of some or all animal species as long as this end can be brought about without suffering (e.g. via benign neutering). A particularly controversial issue is the Red-Button thought experiment which asks whether humans or animals would be harmed if their existence ended within a thousandth of a second after someone had pressed the infamous red button. 25:47 Lawrence Anton gives his definition Antinatalism: The view that bringing new human (or sentient) beings into existence is unethical. 31:45 He hear David Pearce's definition Antinatalism is an ethical stance that says procreation is morally wrong. Antinatalists believe that bringing more involuntary suffering into the world without the prior consent of the victims is indefensible. Antinatalists range from "soft" antinatalists who believe that staying child-free or adopting is a personal decision to "strong" (or "hard") antinatalists who aim peacefully to bring about the extinction of all sentient life. 33:22 Amanda Sukenick gives her definition Antinatalism is a critique of procreation. Antinatalism is a philosophical position and social movement concerned with ending suffering by preventing the birth, manufacturing, creation, manipulation & existence of sentience or possible sentience. *) Matti Häyry did not give his definition.

Great to be on such a great panel!

Wasn't expecting Benatar on it. Thank you.

57:23 So happy to see my definition making it to this panel and opening an interesting series of arguments! Thank you for your important work 👏

Great video! It’s cool to watch all of these popular antinatalists discuss on this topic.

enjoyed listening, very interesting and informative, but i would vote for david benatar's definition. and that is; the view that is morally wrong to bring sentient beings into existence. thanks everybody, much love and respect.

Very informative discussion. Thank you for having it. "Consent" or lack therof is a crucial component to the definition in my opinion.

Great video, many thanks.

Great conversation. I'm here in Brazil following the discussions, living the philosophy of antinatalism and spreading the ideas in the rare opportunities that curious ears grant me. Congratulations Amanda and the whole team of great brains

Many thanks for this excellent discussion. It's been a privilege to listen in.

Awesome 🎖️🎖️🎖️💯 David Benatar is the man. He was the person who opened my eyes to the fact that there are others who hold the same views as i do. Thank You very much.

Terrific and rich, thank you !

For wider propagation of these ideas, it's probably best *not* to define it, or even have it as the front n centre focus of the no child movement. As people arrive at this conclusion from various different paths, the main unifying idea is not antinatalism per say, but the simple choice to not breed, for whatever reason, every one that doesn't, counts. It may not serve the movement to advertise it as a philosophy, with "dogma" and exclusionary features (asking people if they describe yourself thusly, or are they child free with no interest what so ever in a further philosophical aspect to that choice?)

Is there any way to buy stock in Antinatalism?

Wonderful discussion excellent panel. Keep up the great work you guys!

This was a very interesting discussion. I liked what Amanda put together and how Matti kept everything on track as well as his ability to summarize what people had said. I particularly enjoyed the spectrum of views; it is my opinion that definitions, and words, are inherently fluid and for this reason there are always going to be differences. I don't think that is a bad thing. // As an aside, I think that Buddhism's relationship to AN is often misunderstood; I think it is similar to Buddhism's relationship to Schopenhauer. I think the misunderstanding arises because it appears that most people writing about AN today work from a utilitarian foundation and Buddhism is not a form of utilitarianism. Buddhism has the view that suffering is an inherent factor of existence as such, whereas utilitarians consider pleasure and pain to both be present. The Buddhist perspective is that pleasure is inherently laced with suffering and that therefore suffering is more ontologically real. That is why Buddhism did not develop a calculus of pleasure and pain. Personally, I prefer the Buddhist analysis of suffering, but I can understand the attractiveness of utilitarianism. In any case, thanks again for a great discussion and for posting it online.

Thank you for spreading the truth!

🎉🎉🎉

Late to the party -but I’m glad to hear some respectable names discuss some equally important, and compassionate ideas

Antinatalism 4 the Win! 🏆

A question to the community, should antinatalists help natalist beings in any way? This is taking into account that by helping them they increase the net suffering.

antinatalism: A moral belief where one deems procreation (either human, non-human, or all sentient life or any kind of life) categorically as wrong and ought not happen. it doesnt bake in any normative theory or meta ethics. it is compatible with every normative and meta ethical position. this definition is good.

The degree of commodification of "identity" on display here is pretty nauseating. God forbid you just say "I am making the choice not to have children" and leave it at that 😂