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Subject: Philosophy  Book Title: Better Never to Have Been
Better Never to Have Been
The Harm of Coming into Existence
Benatar, David , University of Cape Town
Print publication date: 2006
Published to Oxford Scholarship Online: September 2007
Print ISBN-13: 978-0-19-929642-2
doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199296422.001.0001
 
Abstract: This book argues for a number of related, highly provocative views: (i) coming into existence is always a serious harm; (ii) procreation is always wrong; (iii) it is wrong not to abort foetuses at the earlier stages of gestation; and (iv) it would be better if, as a result of there being no new people, humanity became extinct. Although these conclusions are antagonistic to common and deeply held intuitions, the book argues that these intuitions are unreliable and thus cannot be used to refute it's grim-sounding conclusions.

Keywords: existence, harm, procreation, abortion, future people, extinction
Table of Contents
Preface
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1. Introduction
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2. Why Coming into Existence is Always a Harm
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3. How Bad is Coming into Existence?
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4. Having Children: The Anti-Natal View
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5. Abortion: The ‘Pro-Death’ View
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6. Population and Extinction
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7. Conclusion
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Bibliography
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Index
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doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199296422.001.0001
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