Propagation of the Species
Humans play God all the time.
Billions of babies have come and continue to come kicking and screaming into a dangerous world, completely at the mercy of billions of ignorant and confused “adults” for their survival and tutelage.
How can an entire species so perplexed about the meaning of life be so eager to create new lives… without the deepest reflection, without even shallow reflection, on why we are here?
So, why should anyone have reproductive rights… that is, the right to create new human beings without ever having to answer why… not just to themselves, but also to the rest of us?
Next Meditation: Interfaith Dialogue
Civilization Existentialism Humanism Politics Religion abortion birth control eugenics meaning of life parenthood procreation Religion
Frank J Peter View All →
A uniquely burdened and blessed citizen of the world thinking and acting out loud!
But there will be plenty of reasons for the big “Why not.”
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This multi-faceted issue touches every aspect of existence… and raises countless questions about freedom, rights, responsibilities, poverty, justice, health, safety, patriarchy, diversity, division of labor, scarcity of resources, abortion, birth control, emancipation of women, education… to name but a few.
That said, a mindful and ethical “eugenics” needs to be part of the discussion… I plan to post on this very soon. (Heads up: I am not a proponent of progress by coercion, but by an education that cultivates responsible freedom)
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Very deep, touchy subject
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George, I like your choice of words “deep and touchy”.
To that point, any hope of progress is going to take all the education, experience, honesty, courage, and tact we can muster.
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Agreed.
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Ultimately, there is no answer for the big “Why.”
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I hear you, George, The best answer I can come up with is that I support continued, mindful reproduction just to see how far “We” can go and grow as a species… where “We” includes all generations past and who knows how many generations to come. That said, I would love to see how it all turns out… especially to see if my own humble contributions to eternity (part of the meaning I give to my short life) were worth a darn.
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Wow, who’s to decide who has babies and who doesn’t? Friedrich Nietzsche? This path has been traveled and along comes eugenics and the breeding of the master race…
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Who decides indeed! But “we” are already doing eugenics de facto, aren’t “we”? Someones already are deciding… by the billions… without even the shallowest of reflection on why.
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Seriously, it has been pointed out that in societies where there is some semblance of social justice, some reasonable sharing of wealth and people need not starve to death, that the level of pregnancies greatly reduces. I think we’re looking through the wrong end of the telescope, as usual, blaming victims for the deadly perpetrations of oppressors, from the European predatory empires to the current US-NATO hegemon essentially functioning in the same vein. An equitable global system of wealth distribution might reveal an answer we can only speculate about under the current regime of, to use that word again, predatory capitalism.
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Social justice is a central factor to sure… another topic that could fill volumes… and includes so many aspects that make life miserable for billions: tyranny, patriarchy, superstition (religion), tribalism, economic exploitation… to name but a few. That said, I am not a proponent of progress by coercion, but by education that cultivates responsible freedom. I choose to invest a good deal of my time and energy in that fledgling effort.
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I think that should mean some kind of redistribution of wealth; the return of indigenous lands and focusing on alleviating current obvious needs while allowing people to find their own way once they have some security and enough to eat. That of course means terminating all imperial hegemonic wars.
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I strongly feel popping out kids you can’t feed, clothe, educate, provide for and love should NOT be a “human right”! Just because I’m still opposed to the government legislating reproduction (aside from how on earth would they enforce it after the deed is done…), but it’s a matter of “just because you can, doesn’t mean you should!” Having sex like a handshake then not taking accountability for your offspring, and asking for charity and sympathy maddens me deeply. I feel for the kids, but the inept and stupid parents who got themselves into those straights? Never! This hook up culture of casual sex and the feelings of entitlement to have kids you can’t provide for and pop them out like rabbits is insane! It’s a culture of instant gratification, whatever feels good, and lack of accountability! Amazes me how many would decline getting a pet since it would be too expensive and not enough time to care for properly, yet think nothing of adding kid #6 to the family! What a sorry state our society is in!
https://aladyofreason.wordpress.com/
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After all too, your “rights” end when another’s begin! The child’s interests matter too, they’re not just your assets or property!
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Indeed… a whole other discussion that could fill volumes!
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This is a tough and complicated issue indeed. Like you, my heart bleeds for the kids.
But it begs the question: At what age do innocent children become responsible adults? If ever. And so a better question might be: At what age SHOULD children be expected to become responsible adults? When it comes to reproduction the answer is simple… determined by the age of sexual maturity.
We also know what causes pregnancy and we know how to prevent it. Prophylaxis takes many forms, abstinence included, and should be the responsibility of BOTH sexes. Alas, personal responsibility always seems to be the last thing on the agenda.
PS. And we haven’t even begun to talk about the denial of reproductive rights for women in the developing world…. who are themselves are conditioned and terrorized into becoming little more than baby factories.
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I think of the issue being the kids didn’t ask to be born, nor did they have any control over being born a burden on society. They’re the victims of the parents’ foolishness and selfishness…
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Agreed… But do you think that we may a situation where there are no “perpetrators”, just generation after generation of victims who don’t know any better… endless cycles of victims begetting victims begetting victims begetting victims?
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I believe China did it… even if 65 million people had to die during its “great” cultural revolution. Perhaps that’s a red herring here, but it makes me wonder about Earthian sanity, that’s all.
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No shortage of global insanity indeed.
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Just to be clear to all readers:
1) I am not a proponent of progress by coercion, but by education.
2) I do not support making as many babes as you can afford, either.
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Same! 🙂
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Of course. It never even crossed my mind to think otherwise about you. I just wanted to explicitly say something that should go without saying. Thank you for your engagement and honesty.
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I read others who misinterpreted…
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