[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$fAiy8HKAxxcMMz3PYyMiZGv-2HYQR6WzRGfHVtFSDe3o":3,"$fESbL4BbYSGxXlNFsp4baPdidobh6QfASLfAEPpDk1oM":12},{"author":4,"tags":11},{"author_id":5,"author_name":6,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"bio":9,"short_bio":9,"slug":10,"image_url":9},1412,"David Benatar","D",18,null,"david-benatar",[],{"quotes":13,"pagination":84},[14,22,29,35,41,47,53,60,66,72],{"id":15,"quote_text":16,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":19,"source":20,"quote_tag":21,"commentary":9},2963055,"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. That much should be apparent to everybody, even those who reject the stronger view for which I argue in this book-that not only does one not benefit people by bringing them into existence, but one always harms them.",6,false,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":23,"quote_text":24,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":25,"source":26,"quote_tag":27,"commentary":28},2963046,"In a sentence: Life is bad, but so is death. Of course, life is not bad in every way. Neither is death bad in every way. However, both life and death are, in crucial respects, awful. Together, they constitute an existential vise – the wretched grip that enforces our predicament.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],"**The Backstory**\n\nDavid Benatar, a philosopher known for his work on the ethics of happiness and suffering, is likely the author of this quote. This sentiment reflects his existential pessimism, which he developed in response to the human condition's inherent difficulties. In the 2000s, Benatar published several papers on the topic of harm and happiness, emphasizing that while life may have some positive aspects, both existence and non-existence carry significant burdens.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\n\nBenatar's words reveal a counter-intuitive truth: our conventional understanding of life as inherently good or bad is an oversimplification. He highlights that both life and death are \"awful\" in crucial respects, challenging the assumption that we can neatly categorize existence as either desirable or undesirable. This paradoxical stance acknowledges that human experience is complex and multifaceted.\n\n**How to Use This**\n\nEmbracing this existential nuance encourages a more balanced approach to decision-making and goal-setting. By acknowledging the \"awful\" aspects of both life and death, individuals can develop a more realistic understanding of their options and make choices that account for the inherent difficulties in any situation.",{"id":30,"quote_text":31,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":32,"source":33,"quote_tag":34,"commentary":9},2963025,"Life’s big questions are big in the sense that they are momentuous. However, contrary to appearances, they are not big in the sense of being unanswerable. It is only that the answers are generally unpalatable. There is no great mystery, but there is plenty of horror.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":36,"quote_text":37,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":38,"source":39,"quote_tag":40,"commentary":9},2963020,"Life is meaningless, but it also has meaning – or, more accurately, meanings. There is no such thing as the meaning of life. Many different meanings are possible. One can transcend the self and make a positive mark on the lives of others in myriad ways. These include nurturing and teaching the young, caring for the sick, bringing relief to the suffering, improving society, creating great art or literature, and advancing knowledge.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":42,"quote_text":43,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":44,"source":45,"quote_tag":46,"commentary":9},2963003,"Coming into existence is always bad for those who come into existence. In other words, although we may not be able to say of the never-existent that never existing is good for them, we can say of the existent that existence is bad for them.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":48,"quote_text":49,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":50,"source":51,"quote_tag":52,"commentary":9},2962994,"On my view there is no net benefit to coming into existence and thus coming into existence is never worth its costs.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":54,"quote_text":55,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":56,"source":57,"quote_tag":58,"commentary":59},2962984,"Notice, by extension, that in a democracy those committed to non-procreation could never, in the long run, prevail politically against those committed to procreation.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],"**The Backstory**\nThis quote is from the book \"Better Never to Have Been: The Harm of Coming into Existence\" by David Benatar, a philosopher known for his work on the ethics of existence and non-existence. Written in 2006, the book explores the idea that it is always better never to have come into existence, and the implications this has for our understanding of happiness, suffering, and moral decision-making.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\nAt first glance, the quote may seem to suggest that in a democratic society, those who choose not to have children will always be outvoted by those who do. However, the deeper insight is that this is not just about numbers, but about the fundamental values and motivations that drive human behavior. Benatar is highlighting the inherent asymmetry in human preferences: people tend to prioritize their own interests and desires over the interests of others, and this is particularly true when it comes to the desire to exist and have a life.\n\n**How to Use This**\nIn today's professional and personal lives, we often find ourselves in situations where we must navigate conflicting interests and values. Benatar's insight suggests that we should be aware of our own biases and motivations, and be willing to consider the perspectives of others, even if they differ from our own. By recognizing the asymmetry in human preferences, we can develop more effective strategies for collaboration, negotiation, and decision-making, and create more inclusive and equitable environments for all.",{"id":61,"quote_text":62,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":63,"source":64,"quote_tag":65,"commentary":9},2962965,"I am under no illusions. My position, no matter how clearly stated, is likely to be misunderstood.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":67,"quote_text":68,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":69,"source":70,"quote_tag":71,"commentary":9},2962951,"As we have seen, nobody is lucky enough not to be born, everybody is unlucky enough to have been born – and particularly bad luck it is.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":73,"quote_text":74,"author_id":5,"source_id":75,"has_image":18,"author":76,"source":77,"quote_tag":78,"commentary":9},683472,"It is not only the ratio of pleasure to pain that determines the quality of a life, but also the sheer quantity of pain. Once a certain threshold of pain is passed, no amount of pleasure can compensate for it.",2,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[79],{"id":80,"tag":81},3418196,{"id":82,"tag_name":83},9457,"antinatalism",{"currentPage":85,"totalPages":75,"totalItems":8,"itemsPerPage":86},1,10]