Child Quote by David Benatar
““Parents with dependents are somehow thought to count for more. If, for example, there is some scarce resource—a donor kidney perhaps—and of the two potential recipients one is a parent of young children and one is not, the parent, all things being equal, will likely be favoured. To let a parent die is not only to thwart that person’s preference to be saved, but also the preferences of his or her children that their parent be saved. It is quite true, of course, that the death of the parent will harm more people, but there is nonetheless something to be said against favouring parents. Increasing one’s value by having children might be like increasing one’s value by taking hostages.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Better Than Nothing: An Antidote to Existentialism, 2015
Prioritizing parents for scarce resources raises ethical concerns, as it values potential future lives over current individuals, similar to hostage‑taking logic.
In simple terms: Favoring parents may be unfair and akin to hostage logic.
Key Takeaway
Consider fairness in resource allocation.
Themes
ethics
resource allocation
family values
Mood
critical
serious
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- organ donation policy
- triage decisions
- ethical debates
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
justice
value of life
Questions to Reflect On
- Should parental status influence medical decisions?
- What criteria should guide scarce resource distribution?
A Different Perspective
Equal need may outweigh parental status.
