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Better Never to Have Been : The Harm of Coming into Existence by David Benatar
by David Benatar | PB | LikeNew
Condition:
“An apparently unread copy in perfect condition. Dust cover is intact; pages are clean and are not ”... Read moreabout condition
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eBay item number:193014174695
Item specifics
- Condition
- Like New
- Seller Notes
- Binding
- Paperback
- Weight
- 0.63 lbs
- Product Group
- Book
- IsTextBook
- No
- ISBN
- 9780199549269
- Subject Area
- Philosophy
- Publication Name
- Better Never to Have Been : the Harm of Coming Into Existence
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press, Incorporated
- Item Length
- 7.9 in
- Subject
- General
- Publication Year
- 2008
- Type
- Textbook
- Format
- Trade Paperback
- Language
- English
- Item Height
- 0.6 in
- Item Weight
- 9.1 Oz
- Item Width
- 5.3 in
- Number of Pages
- 256 Pages
About this product
Product Identifiers
Publisher
Oxford University Press, Incorporated
ISBN-10
0199549265
ISBN-13
9780199549269
eBay Product ID (ePID)
66094629
Product Key Features
Number of Pages
256 Pages
Language
English
Publication Name
Better Never to Have Been : the Harm of Coming Into Existence
Publication Year
2008
Subject
General
Type
Textbook
Subject Area
Philosophy
Format
Trade Paperback
Dimensions
Item Height
0.6 in
Item Weight
9.1 Oz
Item Length
7.9 in
Item Width
5.3 in
Additional Product Features
Intended Audience
Scholarly & Professional
Dewey Edition
22
Reviews
This isn't a new book, but it is generating increasing discussion in university departments and elsewhere: hence this review... If you enjoy an ethical challenge, then read this book.
Illustrated
Yes
Dewey Decimal
128
Table Of Content
1: Introduction2: Why coming into existence is always a harm3: How bad is coming into existence?4: Having Children: The Anti-Natal View5: Abortion: The 'Pro-Death' View6: Population and Extinction7: Conclusion, 1. Introduction2. Why coming into existence is always a harm3. How bad is coming into existence?4. Having Children: The Anti-Natal View5. Abortion: The 'Pro-Death' View6. Population and Extinction7. Conclusion
Synopsis
Most people believe that they were either benefited or at least not harmed by being brought into existence. Thus, if they ever do reflect on whether they should bring others into existence---rather than having children without even thinking about whether they should---they presume that they do them no harm. Better Never to Have Been challenges these assumptions. David Benatar argues that coming into existence is always a serious harm. Although the good things in one's life make one's life go better than it otherwise would have gone, one could not have been deprived by their absence if one had not existed. Those who never exist cannot be deprived. However, by coming into existence one does suffer quite serious harms that could not have befallen one had one not come into existence. Drawing on the relevant psychological literature, the author shows that there are a number of well-documented features of human psychology that explain why people systematically overestimate the quality of their lives and why they are thus resistant to the suggestion that they were seriously harmed by being brought into existence. The author then argues for the 'anti-natal' view---that it is always wrong to have children---and he shows that combining the anti-natal view with common pro-choice views about foetal moral status yield a 'pro-death' view about abortion (at the earlier stages of gestation). Anti-natalism also implies that it would be better if humanity became extinct. Although counter-intuitive for many, that implication is defended, not least by showing that it solves many conundrums of moral theory about population., Better Never to Have Been argues for a number of related, highly provocative, views: (1) Coming into existence is always a serious harm. (2) It is always wrong to have children. (3) It is wrong not to abort foetuses at the earlier stages of gestation. (4) It would be better if, as a result of there being no new people, humanity became extinct. These views may sound unbelievable - but anyone who reads Benatar will be obliged to take them seriously., Most people believe that they were either benefited or at least not harmed by being brought into existence. David Benatar presents a startling challenge to these assumptions. He argues that people systematically overestimate the quality of their life, and suffer quite serious harms by coming into existence., Most people believe that they were either benefited or at least not harmed by being brought into existence. Thus, if they ever do reflect on whether they should bring others into existence---rather than having children without even thinking about whether they should---they presume that they do them no harm. Better Never to Have Been challenges these assumptions. David Benatar argues that coming into existence is always a serious harm. Although the good things in one's life make one's life go better than it otherwise would have gone, one could not have been deprived by their absence if one had not existed. Those who never exist cannot be deprived. However, by coming into existence one does suffer quite serious harms that could not have befallen one had one not come into existence. Drawing on the relevant psychological literature, the author shows that there are a number of well-documented features of human psychology that explain why people systematically overestimate the quality of their lives and why they are thus resistant to the suggestion that they were seriously harmed by being brought into existence. The author then argues for the 'anti-natal' view---that it is always wrong to have children---and he shows that combining the anti-natal view with common pro-choice views about foetal moral status yield a "pro-death" view about abortion (at the earlier stages of gestation). Anti-natalism also implies that it would be better if humanity became extinct. Although counter-intuitive for many, that implication is defended, not least by showing that it solves many conundrums of moral theory about population.
LC Classification Number
BD431
ebay_catalog_id
4
Copyright Date
2008
Item description from the seller
Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing.
eBay item number:193014174695
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|---|---|---|---|
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