There are still many countries especially in Africa where people apparently don't need a home or a salary to give births to 4 to 7 children (and the results is feeding human trafficking in the Mediterranean). But in the developed and most of the developing world having a decent financial situation before planning a family is part of the common ethics.
The problem with the type of considerations in that article is that they apply to a decreasing group of people: middle class westerners with enough income to choose between pursuing career and fun with free-time activities or having 2 educated kids but less fun in life.
If you consider the hundreds of millions or the billions of people struggling because of inflation and unemployment, climate conditions like heat, drought, etc., it's not a matter of social conventions.
In addition to that, there are increasing worries about decreasing biological fertility because of air pollution and microplastics, with the most pessimist saying that reproduction will be a privilege of the rich that can afford IVF.
I've talked a lot about ZOB and the arts in the past. Artistic creation as analogous legacy, and also why the scenes of the 80s and 90s were driven, in large part, by gay culture.
What's weird is that it doesn't seem compatible with Dawkin's idea of the selfish gene, until the point he mentions memes (in the old non-internet way). The idea that our biology can be sated by the non-corporeal existence of itself.
There is a very simple explanation about why birth rates are plummeting:
https://www.businessinsider.com/japan-millennial-salaryman-job-wages-rent-home-ownership-birthrate-2023-5
https://www.businessinsider.com/south-korean-millennial-income-housing-ambitions-jobs-2023-3
https://www.insider.com/disenchanted-chinese-youth-join-a-mass-movement-to-lie-flat-2021-6
https://www.businessinsider.com/what-are-full-time-children-china-2023-7
There are still many countries especially in Africa where people apparently don't need a home or a salary to give births to 4 to 7 children (and the results is feeding human trafficking in the Mediterranean). But in the developed and most of the developing world having a decent financial situation before planning a family is part of the common ethics.
Did you see the new Robin Hanson about some of psychological reasons. https://www.overcomingbias.com/p/escalating-signals-cut-fertility
The problem with the type of considerations in that article is that they apply to a decreasing group of people: middle class westerners with enough income to choose between pursuing career and fun with free-time activities or having 2 educated kids but less fun in life.
If you consider the hundreds of millions or the billions of people struggling because of inflation and unemployment, climate conditions like heat, drought, etc., it's not a matter of social conventions.
In addition to that, there are increasing worries about decreasing biological fertility because of air pollution and microplastics, with the most pessimist saying that reproduction will be a privilege of the rich that can afford IVF.
I've talked a lot about ZOB and the arts in the past. Artistic creation as analogous legacy, and also why the scenes of the 80s and 90s were driven, in large part, by gay culture.
What's weird is that it doesn't seem compatible with Dawkin's idea of the selfish gene, until the point he mentions memes (in the old non-internet way). The idea that our biology can be sated by the non-corporeal existence of itself.
Ah, nice. It will be interesting to whether gay culture goes all in on surrogacy and adoption. I'm betting yes.
Can't remember now but probably implemented badly!
You've got me thinking again.
Maybe we need baby farms, to produce people designed for different functions? And some sort of cut-off age is definitely required!
We still can't believe that you and Laura liked Barbie!
You need to reread Brave New World!
Why? Have I got the wrong end of the stick?
I think by the end of the book it is seen as a bad thing, no?