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.

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Persons: —, Kwame Anthony Appiah, Kwame's, it's, Steven Pinker, we've, That's, maiming Organizations: Service, New York Times, Harvard University Locations: York