David Benatar, born in 1966, is a South African philosopher and emeritus professor of philosophy at the University of Cape Town. He is renowned for his work in moral philosophy, particularly his advocacy of antinatalism, the view that bringing new sentient beings into existence is a serious harm. Benatar argues that procreation is morally wrong because it inevitably subjects new individuals to suffering. His most well-known book, "Better Never to Have Been: The Harm of Coming into Existence" (2006), elaborates on this stance, asserting that the absence of pain is good even if unexperienced, while the absence of pleasure is merely neutral, leading to the conclusion that life inherently carries a net negative value.
Beyond antinatalism, Benatar's scholarship encompasses a wide range of ethical and philosophical issues. He has written on topics such as the asymmetry of pleasure and pain, death, human suffering, gender discrimination, and practical ethics. His publications include "The Second Sexism: Discrimination Against Men and Boys" (2012), which examines overlooked disadvantages faced by males, and "The Human Predicament: A Candid Guide to Life's Biggest Questions" (2017), which explores existential pessimism and the meaninglessness of life. In 2024, he published "Very Practical Ethics: Engaging Everyday Moral Questions". Currently, Benatar is a visiting professor at the Centre for Ethics at the University of Toronto.
