Why Creating New Life Isn't Morally Mandatory

Many philosophers argue that bringing a person into existence cannot be a good deed. Since a non-existent person cannot be harmed or helped, there is no moral obligation to create new humans.

This perspective, known as the person-affecting view, suggests that moral value only exists when there is a subject to experience it. If an individual does not yet exist, they cannot be made better off by being born, making the act of procreation morally neutral. This theory creates a massive dilemma for those concerned with the future of humanity. It forces us to question whether we have a duty to expand the population or if we should focus solely on the well-being of those already here.