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David Benatar

Better Never to Have Been: The Harm Of Coming Into Existence Paperback – Illustrated, 15 Sept. 2008

by David Benatar (Author)

4.5 274 ratings

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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.

ISBN-10

0199549265
ISBN-13

978-0199549269
Edition

Illustrated
Publisher

Oxford University Press, Usa
Publication date

15 Sept. 2008
Language

English
Dimensions

19.81 x 13.46 x 1.52 cm
Print length

237 pages
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Product description

Review

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. ― Malcolm Torry, Triple Helix

For those who admire really careful and imaginative argumentation, and are interested in either issues of life and death, or the foundations of morality, it's a must read ― Harry Brighouse, Out of the Crooked Timber

Benatar's discussion is clear and intelligent. ― Yujin Nagasawa MIND

About the Author

David Benatar is currently Senior Lecturer in the Philosophy Department at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. He received his Ph.D. from that university, did post-doctoral work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison from 1993 to 1995, and was Visiting Assistant Professor at the College of Charleston, South Carolina, from 1995 until 1997. His teaching and research interests are in moral philosophy and related areas. In 1999 he was awarded the University of Cape Town's Distinguished Teacher Award.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Oxford University Press, Usa; Illustrated edition (15 Sept. 2008)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 237 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0199549265
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0199549269
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 19.81 x 13.46 x 1.52 cm

Best Sellers Rank: 104,800 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 51 in Medical Ethics & Legal Issues
- 202 in Linguistics References
- 427 in Ethics & Morality (Books)

Customer reviews:
4.5 274 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5

274 global ratings

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Myron Zhang

Antinatalism explained as it should be

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 November 2022

Verified Purchase

I was an antinatalist before reading this book, but now that sentiment has been cemented after having finished it. I recommend anyone to be openminded to the subject matter it covers, because it deviates strongly from the norm, but Benatar's argument is thought-provoking and not too difficult to digest. At times it felt like he was repeating himself and could have been more concise with his phraseology, but nonetheless it was a good read and gave me comfort in knowing that I am not alone in my beliefs.

5 people found this helpful

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D. Moffat

An enjoyable thought provoking read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 May 2010

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This book is nicely written and his argument is easy to understand fairly early in.

His argument rests on an intuitive asymmetry between the 'good' that is the 'absence of pain', and the 'not bad(ness)' (or neutralness) that is the 'absence of pleasure'. His argument also turns on the distinction between two ways of talking about 'a life worth living'. We can (and ought to) separate our ideas on 'a life worth starting' from 'a life worth continuing'. This is very important. Where as some lives may be worth continuing (he agrees most are) NO life is worth starting. If i come down with a painful condition i may consider my life to still be worth continuing. However if i am faced with the choice whether to create a being who has such a condition it is As all life contains guaranteed harm the interests of a conceivable person are best served by not creating them.

I am unsure the problem some of the other commentators have with this. This is a good argument.

I think where one might want to attack his position, however, will be by rejecting the assumed asymmetry. But, as Benatar himself notes (near the end), such will be difficult to do without spawning other counter intuitive results. I would probably want to still go down this line - though i think his conclusion is right

Either way, i highly recommend this book

31 people found this helpful

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Aeraphos

The definitive book on Antinatalism

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 September 2014

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This book discusses the antinatalist position in depth and it explains the philosophy very clearly. It first explains why coming into existence is a harm, the magnitude of the harm and then goes on to discuss the conclusions (that suffering is a harm and life contains a great deal of it) implications on procreation, abortion, population, suicide and the idea that humanity should work towards it's own extinction.

The first few sections of the book where Benatar goes through the basics are admittedly a little dull and dryly-written, however once I reached the last section of the third chapter "A word of suffering", things started to get interesting as the philosophy of antinatilism is applied to the real world. We get to see the implications it has on civilization, controversial issues and other philosophies.

The Kindle version was great for the most part with the only problem being that the table of contents, where the chapter options should be, requires you to click on a "table of contents" button to go to the actual table of contents so you can choose a chapter, but it doesn't real matter because it's only one extra click.

15 people found this helpful

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Dan H

Worth reading just for an alternative view of life and existence.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 January 2021

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This is a tough read for a beginner but it is “doable” and a very interesting a none main stream concept that has some merit.

I’d also highly recommend Thomas Ligotti’s “The Conspiracy Against The Human Race”, it’s more literary and less heavy on Philosophy and he refers back to this book in his.

8 people found this helpful

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l

the most eye opening book I have EVER read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 December 2015

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Phenomenal. Perhaps the most profound, important and certainly the most eye-opening book I have ever read, and I've read alot of philosophy - way back from the Ancient Greeks. If I had it my way, Chapters 2 and 3 would be mandatory reading in all high schools - the topic needs to be discussed and really thought about.

A very taboo subject and it couldn't have had someone better to set it out in such an unbiased and unemotional way. It really does antinatalism justice.

15 people found this helpful

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mintymoor

An important book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 June 2013

Verified Purchase

Its a bit of a taboo subject, this, so its wonderful to see it in book form. Its perspective on life is something I have always felt on some level. I have awarded the book 5 stars, mainly for its courage in being written! It is also well written and interesting, though occasionally I found it a little academic/dense for my own tastes.

May I also recommend "On The Suffering Of the World" by Arthur Schopenhauer, a pamphlet book written over 100 years ago, but beautifully and freshly written on more-or-less the same subject.

27 people found this helpful

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Viksanity

Highly thought-provoking and well laid out analysis

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 December 2012

Verified Purchase

The author tries to tackle the subjects of procreation and continuing human existence in a very calculated and logical manner, and the analysis he carries out is masterful and compelling. Even if you end up still disagreeing with the conclusions (hardly surprising as it's so against human nature and societal values), the book should provide a thought-provoking and well laid out viewpoint you might otherwise have never considered.

13 people found this helpful

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Peter M. Howell

mindless pointless worthless

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 November 2017

Verified Purchase

A truly pointless collection of pseudo intellectual ramblings.

4 people found this helpful

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