Nonidentity problem explained

The nonidentity problem (also called the paradox of future individuals)^[1] in population ethics is the problem that an act may still be wrong even if it is not wrong for anyone. More precisely, the nonidentity problem is the inability to simultaneously hold the following beliefs: (1) a person-affecting view; (2) bringing someone into existence whose life is worth living, albeit flawed, is not "bad for" that person; (3) some acts of bringing someone into existence are wrong even if they are not bad for someone.^[2] Rivka Weinberg has used the nonidentity problem to study the ethics of reproduction.^[3]

See also

• Derek Parfit
• Mere addition paradox

Further reading

• Alina Omerbasic (2018). "Genome Editing, Non-Identity and the Notion of Harm, Between Moral Hazard and Legal Uncertainty", doi:10.1007/978-3-658-22660-2_5, (67-81)
• Robert Sparrow (2021). "Human Germline Genome Editing: On the Nature of Our Reasons to Genome Edit", The American Journal of Bioethics, doi:10.1080/15265161.2021.1907480, 22, 9, (4-15)

Notes and References

1. Gregory. Kavka. The Paradox of Future Individuals.
2. Encyclopedia: The Nonidentity Problem. M. A.. Roberts. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 2015-12-17.
3. Sarah . Conly . Review The risk of a lifetime: how, when, and why procreation may be permissible . Journal of Moral Philosophy . 15 . 6 . 787–790 . 18 December 2018 . 10.1163/17455243-01506007. 182385668 .