Why reproduce?

Question

Why pass on your genes? Why continue to suck off earth's natural resources like a parasite?

Answer 1

Sadly, I know many families who need to cut off the gene pool from their lineage. They are not doing the world a favor by passing on their irregular genes. It is a shame that it is so easy to bring a child in thei world that would be better off with someone else as parents. All we can do is hope for the best and hand out prophylactics.

Answer 2

A lot of humans reproduce without a reason-they physically mature,they are sexually active,they have babies.They live and die-they suck up natural resources without thought. I am an educated person that DOES think about natural resources. A long time ago when I was young,I did not want to have children because I felt the world was already populated enough. When I got a little older and wiser, I realized that I did need to reproduce because people like me and my children may be able to make a contribution to help with global problems,not just be users. However,my partner and I chose to only reproduce our own lives-that means only two children.

Answer 3

I'm not thinking of 'reproduction' in the instant, lad. I'm thinking of other things. That might result in reproduction, even at my age.

I think you look too far ahead--but not far enough. A billion years hence, how many of your choices made today will matter to you? On the other hand, if you don't nail that chick tonight, you won't ever.

Establishing the appropriate priority among possible thoughts is very local affair, for us proper beasts. Concern for posterity--a notoriously ungrateful lot--seems to me wasted effort. What proper claim have I, for instance, on the anaerobic bacteria of three and a half billion years ago?

Ethical questions on passing on my genes? What a silly faddish notion that is! As if it were reasonable to evaluate my is-ness! I am, end of evaluation!

As to parasitism: I think it might be useful to you to read Lynn Margulis. She has some interesting observations on that subject, indeed, she makes 'parasitism' the mainspring of evolutionary movement.

Answer 4

Life, by its very nature, is self-centered and self-important....


HOWEVER, you should really be posting this question in a forum visited by Asians and Africans, since they are the ones reproducing like crazy in the next 50 years. Western populations are actually declining...

Answer 5

I concur. Why add to the population and environmental problems? Soon, every country will have to restrict reproduction like China - because of global warming and loss of arable land. It may already be too late to avoid the crisis.

Answer 6

This is true. Why reproduce? that's the question we should be asking. But then again another question is: "If you love someone so much and are in total bliss and want a kid, why shouldn't you?"

Answer 7

Nothing parasitical about it since mankind is responsible for growing or raising his own food supply in farms.

Answer 8

Ego

Answer 9

To continue humankind

Answer 10

People reproduce because its a biological urge. You seem to be suggesting mass suicide to save the earth. I'll wait till I get the Biological urge to kill myself.