The Nonidentity Problem #1 - Ethics | WIRELESS PHILOSOPHY

Summary

In this video, Molly Gardner, a research assistant professor, explores the non-identity problem through a thought experiment involving two women, Alice and Barbara, who wish for unhealthy children for attention. Alice's drug use harms her son, Alex, while Barbara selects an embryo with a health issue, resulting in her son, Billy, who, despite suffering, leads a life worth living. The dilemma arises in whether Barbara wrongs Billy since his existence is contingent upon her choice. This philosophical quandary has implications for reproductive rights, genetic engineering, and environmental ethics, prompting a reevaluation of how we consider harm and existence.

Takeaways

• 👩‍🏫 The non-identity problem explores ethical dilemmas regarding the existence and well-being of individuals in relation to parental choices.
• 👶 Alice and Barbara represent two mothers who intentionally have children with poor health for personal reasons.
• 💊 Alice harms her child, Alex, by taking a drug during pregnancy, resulting in lifelong health issues.
• 🧬 Barbara selects an embryo with a gene for poor health through in vitro fertilization, leading to a child named Billy who also faces health challenges.
• 🤔 Despite suffering, both Alex and Billy lead lives that are considered worth living, raising questions about moral responsibility.
• ⚖️ The distinction between harm in Alice's case and Barbara's case hinges on the nature of existence; Billy's existence is contingent on Barbara's specific choices.
• 🔄 The non-identity problem presents a set of inconsistent claims about harm that cannot all be true at the same time.
• 🚼 Rejecting one of the claims about harm is essential to resolving the non-identity problem and understanding moral obligations.
• 🌍 The implications of the non-identity problem extend to reproductive rights, genetic engineering, and environmental ethics.
• 🌱 Environmental choices today may lead to future populations suffering health issues, yet these individuals would not exist if different choices were made.

Q & A

What is the non-identity problem introduced by Molly Gardner?

The non-identity problem is a philosophical issue that arises when considering whether individuals can be wronged by actions that lead to their existence if those actions are the condition of their worthwhile existence.

Who are the two main characters in the thought experiment used to illustrate the non-identity problem?

The two main characters are Alice and Barbara. Alice takes a drug during pregnancy, while Barbara uses in vitro fertilization to select for poor health in an embryo.

What are the outcomes of the actions taken by Alice and Barbara?

Alice's child, Alex, suffers from poor health due to the drug she took, while Barbara's child, Billy, is born with similar health issues because she selected for a gene causing poor health. Both children have lives worth living despite their hardships.

Why is Barbara's action considered morally different from Alice's?

Barbara's action is seen as morally different because Billy could not have existed without her selection for poor health. In contrast, Alex's existence would have been unaltered had Alice not taken the drug.

What is the core inconsistency in the claims regarding Barbara and Billy?

The inconsistency lies in the claims that Barbara wronged Billy by harming him, yet she did not make him worse off than he otherwise would have been, as his life is still considered worth living.

How does the non-identity problem relate to reproductive rights?

The non-identity problem raises questions about the morality of selecting for conditions that may be viewed as poor health or unhappiness, challenging arguments against reproductive autonomy in such cases.

What implications does the non-identity problem have for genetic engineering?

It prompts a consideration of whether bringing genetically engineered animals into existence is wrong, especially if their existence involves suffering or hardship.

How does the non-identity problem apply to environmental issues?

It complicates the justification for protecting the environment, as choosing to pollute could lead to future generations suffering from health problems, yet those individuals would not exist if the alternative decision were made.

What are the four inconsistent claims outlined in the non-identity problem?

1) Barbara wronged Billy. 2) The way she wronged him was by harming him. 3) The only way she could have harmed him is by making him worse off than he otherwise would have been. 4) Barbara did not make Billy worse off than he otherwise would have been.

What does Gardner suggest is necessary to solve the non-identity problem?

To solve the non-identity problem, we must reject at least one of the inconsistent claims and identify the flaw in the reasoning or intuition that supports the claim we choose to reject.