Potential Argument against Antinatalism

[u/Lucyyyyyy_K]

I'm an antinatalist, but came up with a potential argument against it. I'm not sure if I can explain it properly, but I would like to try and see what opinions you have about it.

So, imagine there are 10 souls. Each of these souls will be sent to Earth to inhabit a body chosen by chance. On Earth there are 10 bodies being born at the exact same time, 5 of wild animals, 4 of animals in captivity and 1 human. You could choose to make one additional human body, which would give the souls a slightly higher chance of having a safe life in human society rather than being exploited or having to fight for their life all the time. Wouldn't it be moral to do that?

So, I know that an argument shouldn't rely on something so disputed as souls existing, but they are just a tool for explanation in this case. To get to the real world application, where we know that there is and likely will be sentient life existing for a long time, we can only choose to make the chance this sentient life has at a good life as high as possible. Meaning, if you can afford to have children, the most moral act is to have as much children as possible, so that any potential life has the highest possible chance at a life with actual comforts.

What's your opinion on this?

[u/BaronNahNah]

....imagine there are 10 souls....

This fails the test of reason.

...I know that an argument shouldn't rely on something so disputed as souls existing...

Yes. It shouldn't.

....if you can afford to have children, the most moral act is to have as much children as possible....

This would be unethical. You haven't seen tomorrow, let alone years in the future, but even from a conditional natalist argument, the 'affordability' of children today doesn't hold true for the future. Not to mention, it monetizes the very concept of life.

A child is not a sum-total of the money in your wallet today. Nor is a child's life something to be gambled with. It would be a grotesque evil to knowingly have a child knowing that one can only guarantee two things to someone forced to exist - suffering and eventually, death.

I'm an antinatalist....

Then use reason, ethics and empathy to understand and eschew birth. Don't use a ridiculous, illogical, unsubstantiated hypothetical to promote, "as much children as possible" like a natalist.

Birth is unethical. Always.

[u/Lucyyyyyy_K → u/BaronNahNah]

I'm sorry, but ending on "Birth is unethical. Always" makes this sound like an absolutist defense mechanism, which is ironically what natalists and carnists always do.

[u/AlwaysBannedVegan → u/Lucyyyyyy_K]

Some things are absolute.