A would-be parent asks whether it's selfish to have children today because the world's going to hell.
"The Ethicist" (Kwame Anthony Appiah) provides a long, thoughtful response to this question that boils down to, "yes."
And, therefore, it might be mean or selfish or irresponsible for would-be parents to bring children into the world.
But more importantly, despite climate change, et al, the world actually isn't worse than it has ever been.
So, yes, worried would-be parents, by all means have children.
Persons:
—, Kwame Anthony Appiah, Kwame's, it's, Steven Pinker, we've, That's, maiming
Organizations:
Service, New York Times, Harvard University
Locations:
York