Considering Procreation: Arguments from Philosophy and Economics

Abstract

CHARLES UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES Institute of Political Studies Josef Bialas Considering Procreation: Arguments from Philosophy and Economics Bachelor's Thesis Abstract The thesis investigates economic implications of procreation and on their basis offers a philosophical argument that sets strict conditions for procreation in the Global North. Firstly, a microeconomic theorization of procreative decision-making is linked to further microeconomic implications of procreation to offer a microeconomic analysis of procreation. Secondly, negative macroeconomic implications of below-replacement fertility in countries in the Global North are presented. Thirdly, it is shown that economic justifications alone do not provide sufficient justification for procreative intentions. Moreover, by utilizing the concept of carbon impact, a precept to limit one's family size on environmental grounds is stated. This precept is used to establish a novel concept of global justification for procreation. An argument from harm is used to argue for a concept of local justification for procreation. Lastly, an account of valid local and global justifications is given. By doing so, this thesis provides a strong moral argument against procreation in the Global North if the criteria of local and global justification laid out...