Creating new people, by having babies, is so much a part…
“Creating new people, by having babies, is so much a part of human life that it is rarely thought even to require a justification. Indeed, most people do not even think about whether they should or should not make a baby. They just make one. In other words, procreation is usually the consequence of sex rather than the result of a decision to bring people into existence. Those who do indeed decide to have a child might do so for any number of reasons, but among these reasons cannot be the interests of the potential child. One can never have a child for that child’s sake.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Procreation is treated as an automatic outcome of sex, not a deliberate moral choice, and cannot be justified by the child's interests.
In simple terms: Having children is often unexamined and not for the child's benefit.
Key Takeaway
Question the assumptions behind having children.
Themes
ethics
procreation
existentialism
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- family planning
- ethical debates
- personal decisions
- societal norms
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
value of life
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you consider the child's welfare when deciding to have a baby?
- How does society influence procreation decisions?
A Different Perspective
Children cannot be justified solely for their own sake.