David Benatar is a South African philosopher and author renowned for his work in ethics, particularly his advocacy of antinatalism. His seminal book, "Better Never to Have Been: The Harm of Coming into Existence," presents the argument that existence inherently inflicts harm, making procreation morally indefensible. This controversial thesis has sparked widespread debate in philosophical circles and beyond, establishing Benatar as a leading voice in contemporary moral philosophy.
Beyond antinatalism, Benatar explores themes of suffering and ethical responsibility, often focusing on humanity's treatment of animals and the consequences of exploitation. A committed vegan, he contends that human actions cause immense suffering to both humans and non-human animals, drawing parallels between zoonotic disease outbreaks like COVID-19 and unethical animal treatment. His atheistic worldview and personal choice to remain childless further reflect his philosophical consistency. Benatar continues to contribute to academic discourse through his writings and public engagements.
Non-Fiction Books
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Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Ethics for Everyday
2001
2
Both Sides of the Bench, New Perspectives on International Law & Human Rights
2004
3
Life, Death, and Meaning
2004
4
Better Never to Have Been
2006
5
Procreation and Parenthood
2010
6
The Second Sexism
2012
7
The Human Predicament
2017
8
The Fall of the University of Cape Town
2021
9
Very Practical Ethics
2024
Conversations about Philosophy Books
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Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Lockdown: Did Government Do the Right Thing? (By: Jason Werbeloff)
2020
2
Conversations about the Meaning of Life
2021
3
Conversations about God and the Problem of Evil (By: Jason Werbeloff)
2021
4
Conversations about Harming Animals (By: Jason Werbeloff)
2021
5
Conversations about Time Travel and Teleporters (By: Jason Werbeloff)
2021
6
Conversations about the Philosophy of Love and Desire (By: Jason Werbeloff)
2021
Debating Ethics Books
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Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Debating Brain Drain: May Governments Restrict Emigration? (By: Michael Blake, Gillian Brock)
2014
2
Debating Procreation: Is It Wrong to Reproduce?
2015
3
Debating Climate Ethics (By: Stephen M. Gardiner, David A. Weisbach)
2016
4
Debating Gun Control: How Much Regulation Do We Need? (By: David DeGrazia)
2016
5
Debating Humanitarian Intervention: Should We Try to Save Strangers? (By: Fernando R. Tesón, Bas Van Der Vossen)
2017
6
Debating Pornography (By: Andrew Altman, Lori Watson)
2018
7
Debating Education: Is There a Role for Markets? (By: David Schmidtz, Harry Brighouse)
2019
8
Debating Sex Work (By: Lori Watson, Jessica Flanigan)
2019
9
Debating Targeted Killing: Counter-Terrorism or Extrajudicial Execution? (By: Jeremy Waldron)
2020
10
Debating Democracy: Do We Need More or Less? (By: Hélène Landemore)
2021
David Benatar Anthologies
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Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Cutting to the Core: Exploring the Ethics of Contested Surgeries