Should We Go Extinct? A Philosophical Dilemma for Our Unbearable Times

Philosophical advisor to the hit NBC sitcom The Good Place contemplates the future of humanity--whether we should bring new humans into the world, or if the world would be better without us These days it's harder than ever to read a paper, watch TV, or even just sit at home looking out the window without contemplating the title question of philosopher Todd May's book: Should We Go Extinct? We live in an age characterized by worries about human extinction, particularly in light of the environmental changes wrought by the climate crisis. Discussion of our possible demise appears in newspapers and magazines around the country as well as on social media and at dinner tables. However, we have yet to confront directly the ultimate question of whether we should still be here in the first place. Now, more than ever, many people wonder whether we should bring more human beings into the world when it seems increasingly clear that not only do we face bleak prospects as a species but also that we