Why I am not an Antinatalist
Channel: conferencereport
Date: 01/08/2012

The sound quality on this video is not very good, so just in case you can't hear what I'm saying.  These are just some of the reasons why I would not want to be thought of as an 'antinatalist' on Youtube, despite my having some sympathies with what I see as the core idea :

1. Antinatalism is anti-intellectual, ridiculing and dismissing any theoretical, scientific or philosophical idea which appears to challenge the worldview, (whilst selectively applauding those that appear to support it).

2. Antinatalism is elitist, dismissing the opinions and viewpoints of 'the man (or woman) in the street' as ignorant or delusional.

3. Antinatalism arrogantly refuses to acknowledge history. Most of the ideas presented within AN videos as original have actually featured within philosophical thought for centuries, and have been moved on considerably beyond the level at which they are typically pitched on Youtube. The refusal to recognise the debt owed to history, and to learn from that history, shows a breathtaking intellectual arrogance .

4. Antinatalism relies on poor strategies of argumentation. Most 'arguments' take the form of the presentation and elaboration of metaphors and analogies, with the makers of these arguments apparently oblivious to the fact that respectable philosophical and scientific thought uses such tropes only as means of communication. Proper argumentation addresses the underlying data or foundational premises, which are almost entirely absent from antinatalist discussion on Youtube.

5. Antinatalism is crypto-fascist. The political implications associated with YT antinatalism are rarely made overt, but the idea that it would be morally correct for one individual to destroy all life, or to sterilise the poor, have been met with either approval or tacit acceptance. These conclusions are inescapably fascistic.

6. Antinatalism is confused. By allying ideas around the ethics of procreation with poor understandings of determinism, 'objective morality', consequentialist ethics, a mind-independent universe, etc AN has become hopelessly mired in philosophical speculation. And don't even get me started on 'efilism'.

7. Antinatalism is (often) overly macho. AN supporters claim that only they have the courage to look reality in the face, and often support this claim by repeatedly showing images of suffering (dying children, starving Africans, victims of accidents and disease etc). This claim uses a common stereotype of masculinity which associates clarity of thought with a willingness to tolerate ugliness and horror. Challengers to the AN position are covertly assigned to the opposite, stereotypically female position (Pollyanna-ism), which associates an intolerance of horror with delusional thinking. Both these stereotypes are, of course, false. Needless to say, the opinions and viewpoints of the victims whose suffering is being exploited for polemical effect is never sought.

8. Antinatalism makes stuff up. Just watch any video by an antinatalist that has the word 'science' or 'maths' in the title.

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but covers some of the reasons which I would be embarrassed to call myself an antinatalist on Youtube.