How to reject Benatar’s asymmetry argument

Magnusson, Erik

doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bioe.12582

How to reject Benatar’s asymmetry argument

Citation

Magnusson E. How to reject Benatar’s asymmetry argument. Bioethics. 2019 Apr 23;33(6):674-83. DOI: 10.1111/bioe.12582

Abstract

In this paper, I reconsider David Benatar’s primary argument for anti-natalism—the asymmetry argument— and outline a three-step process for rejecting it. I begin in Part I by reconstructing the asymmetry argument into three main premises. I then turn in Parts II-IV to explain how each of these premises is in fact false. Finally, I conclude in Part V by considering the relationship between the asymmetry argument and the quality of life argument in Benatar’s overall case for anti-natalism and argue that it is the latter argument that is actually doing the work. In this sense, the asymmetry argument is not only unsuccessful in generating Benatar’s anti-natalist conclusion; it is also unnecessary as well.