On Being Born, Suffering, and the Radical Optimism of Faith
A fascinating, if perhaps grim, article from The New Yorker recently crossed my path, titled "The Case for Not Being Born." It delves into the philosophy of David Benatar, an "anti-natalist" who argues, quite starkly, that life is so fraught with suffering that it is morally wrong to bring children into existence out of sheer compassion. He believes "life itself is 'permeated by badness'" and that non-existence is preferable to the predicament of being alive and facing inevitable pain, frustration, and decay.
A fascinating, if perhaps grim, article from The New Yorker recently crossed my path, titled "The Case for Not Being Born." It delves into the philosophy of David Benatar, an "anti-natalist" who argues, quite starkly, that life is so fraught with suffering that it is morally wrong to bring children into existence out of sheer compassion. He believes "life itself is 'permeated by badness'" and that non-existence is preferable to the predicament of being alive and facing inevitable pain, frustration, and decay.
My observation (I could always be wrong you know): This perspective, while presented with academic rigor, is a profound illustration of what happens when we view the human condition solely through a materialist or purely rationalist lens, detached from the light of faith. It's a stark, indeed almost suffocating, picture of despair.
Benatar meticulously lists the woes of life: the daily irritations, the physical discomforts, the emotional pains of unfulfilled hopes, strained relationships, aging, and the suffering and loss of loved ones. He argues that pain is worse than pleasure is good, and that while the absence of suffering for the non-existent is a good thing, the absence of pleasure for the non-existent is not a bad thing because there is no one to be deprived. This asymmetry, he claims, stacks the deck against existence itself.
Now, as Catholics, we don't deny the reality of suffering. Far from it! Our faith is centered on the Cross – the ultimate symbol of suffering. But here's where The Bigger View comes in, the view that Benatar's philosophy tragically misses.
- Life as a Gift: The most fundamental Catholic teaching is that life is a sacred gift from God. We are not the result of random chance or a cosmic mistake. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, we are created, each and every one of us, in the image and likeness of God. To argue "the case for not being born" is to argue against this divine act of creation and the inherent, inalienable dignity of the human person that flows from it. Life is good, intrinsically, because its source is God, who is Goodness itself.
- Meaning in Suffering: Benatar suggests people find meaning in suffering only because it's otherwise gratuitous. This is where the Cross provides the definitive answer. Suffering, while a consequence of fallen humanity, was embraced by Christ and transformed into the path to salvation. Suffering, united with Christ's, can be redemptive. It can purify, teach patience, build character, and draw us closer to God and one another. It is not meaningless; it can be deeply meaningful within God's plan, leading us towards eternal joy.
- Hope, Not Despair: Benatar sees the impossibility of eliminating suffering from sentient life as a reason to cease creating it, finding a perverse kind of "hope" in non-procreation. But Christian hope is not the naive denial of pain; it is the certainty, based on Christ's resurrection, that suffering and death do not have the final word. We are called to be the Church Militant, to alleviate suffering, yes, but our ultimate hope is not in perfecting this world (which, as Benatar rightly notes, seems an impossible task), but in the promise of the next. This hope fuels our efforts in this life, empowering acts of charity, solidarity, and the defense of life.
- The Joy and Goodness Ignored: While Benatar lists woes, the article also describes simple scenes of life happening around him: families picnicking, couples strolling, people helping each other. These moments of connection, love, simple joys (like a child wanting leftover French fries!), and virtue (like helping someone with their coat) are also deeply woven into the fabric of existence. Benatar's philosophy seems to give disproportionate weight to the negative, perhaps because, as the author notes, he finds it hard to reconcile his views with the simple reality of life unfolding.
Just my opinion: To argue "the case for not being born" is to reject the greatest gift we have received – existence itself, with its potential for knowing, loving, and serving God, and for sharing in His eternal life. It's a philosophy that, while intellectually presented, leads down a path of bleakness that stands in stark contrast to the hope and joy offered by faith.
We are called to be witnesses to the value of life, even amidst its trials. We pray for those who are lost in such pessimistic darkness, that they may find the true Bigger View – the view from the Cross, leading to the empty tomb, and ultimately, to the promise of resurrection and eternal life.
May God bless you and keep you focused on the light! :-)
My observation (I could always be wrong you know): This perspective, while presented with academic rigor, is a profound illustration of what happens when we view the human condition solely through a materialist or purely rationalist lens, detached from the light of faith. It's a stark, indeed almost suffocating, picture of despair.
Benatar meticulously lists the woes of life: the daily irritations, the physical discomforts, the emotional pains of unfulfilled hopes, strained relationships, aging, and the suffering and loss of loved ones. He argues that pain is worse than pleasure is good, and that while the absence of suffering for the non-existent is a good thing, the absence of pleasure for the non-existent is not a bad thing because there is no one to be deprived. This asymmetry, he claims, stacks the deck against existence itself.
Now, as Catholics, we don't deny the reality of suffering. Far from it! Our faith is centered on the Cross – the ultimate symbol of suffering. But here's where The Bigger View comes in, the view that Benatar's philosophy tragically misses.
- Life as a Gift: The most fundamental Catholic teaching is that life is a sacred gift from God. We are not the result of random chance or a cosmic mistake. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, we are created, each and every one of us, in the image and likeness of God. To argue "the case for not being born" is to argue against this divine act of creation and the inherent, inalienable dignity of the human person that flows from it. Life is good, intrinsically, because its source is God, who is Goodness itself.
- Meaning in Suffering: Benatar suggests people find meaning in suffering only because it's otherwise gratuitous. This is where the Cross provides the definitive answer. Suffering, while a consequence of fallen humanity, was embraced by Christ and transformed into the path to salvation. Suffering, united with Christ's, can be redemptive. It can purify, teach patience, build character, and draw us closer to God and one another. It is not meaningless; it can be deeply meaningful within God's plan, leading us towards eternal joy.
- Hope, Not Despair: Benatar sees the impossibility of eliminating suffering from sentient life as a reason to cease creating it, finding a perverse kind of "hope" in non-procreation. But Christian hope is not the naive denial of pain; it is the certainty, based on Christ's resurrection, that suffering and death do not have the final word. We are called to be the Church Militant, to alleviate suffering, yes, but our ultimate hope is not in perfecting this world (which, as Benatar rightly notes, seems an impossible task), but in the promise of the next. This hope fuels our efforts in this life, empowering acts of charity, solidarity, and the defense of life.
- The Joy and Goodness Ignored: While Benatar lists woes, the article also describes simple scenes of life happening around him: families picnicking, couples strolling, people helping each other. These moments of connection, love, simple joys (like a child wanting leftover French fries!), and virtue (like helping someone with their coat) are also deeply woven into the fabric of existence. Benatar's philosophy seems to give disproportionate weight to the negative, perhaps because, as the author notes, he finds it hard to reconcile his views with the simple reality of life unfolding.
Just my opinion: To argue "the case for not being born" is to reject the greatest gift we have received – existence itself, with its potential for knowing, loving, and serving God, and for sharing in His eternal life. It's a philosophy that, while intellectually presented, leads down a path of bleakness that stands in stark contrast to the hope and joy offered by faith.
We are called to be witnesses to the value of life, even amidst its trials. We pray for those who are lost in such pessimistic darkness, that they may find the true Bigger View – the view from the Cross, leading to the empty tomb, and ultimately, to the promise of resurrection and eternal life.
May God bless you and keep you focused on the light! :-)
Comments