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> I want to attack the premise that a shrinking population is inherently a problem. It's not really a problem, it survival. Not having kids is not really a pro

> I want to attack the premise that a shrinking population is inherently a problem. It's not really a problem, it survival. Not having kids is not really a problem, but the fact is that you genes will die along with you. Same for culture. Your own culture dying might not be a problem, but it means that your values will die along with it. Having equality between individuals is something to strive for (in my western opinion), but does this same value mean that your culture will die out, together with its values? Another culture might survive, because they have less 'favorable' values.

fifnir 8y ago
> you genes will die along with you I get it, this is why I haven't already had a vasectomy, but your genes are nothing special, just a sample of the alleles in the population. I'm much more concerned about producing ideas that will outlive me and spreading those. Newton died a virgin yet he profoundly influenced the world. Similar with cultures, ancient greeks are long gone but their culture shaped the world.
- koonsolo 8y ago
  Yes, I definitely agree. Genes are only 1 aspect of what can be passed on. But the question here is: Will the value of "men and women should fulfill the same roles in society" survive or die out?
  - fifnir 8y ago
    Firstly, I would phrase the value as "People should not be restricted in the roles they can fulfill in society" (I don't think anyone serious(ly) argues that everyone should do exactly the same). And no I don't think that this value is under threat from other cultures just because they reproduce more. The value didn't get established in society because the people who held it reproduced more. Also, those who oppose it won't necessarily continue to reproduce more forever. Atheists have smaller fertility rates than any religion, yet atheism is spreading more and more

fifnir 8y ago

> you genes will die along with you I get it, this is why I haven't already had a vasectomy, but your genes are nothing special, just a sample of the alleles in the population. I'm much more concerned about producing ideas that will outlive me and spreading those. Newton died a virgin yet he profoundly influenced the world. Similar with cultures, ancient greeks are long gone but their culture shaped the world.

koonsolo 8y ago
Yes, I definitely agree. Genes are only 1 aspect of what can be passed on. But the question here is: Will the value of "men and women should fulfill the same roles in society" survive or die out?
- fifnir 8y ago
  Firstly, I would phrase the value as "People should not be restricted in the roles they can fulfill in society" (I don't think anyone serious(ly) argues that everyone should do exactly the same). And no I don't think that this value is under threat from other cultures just because they reproduce more. The value didn't get established in society because the people who held it reproduced more. Also, those who oppose it won't necessarily continue to reproduce more forever. Atheists have smaller fertility rates than any religion, yet atheism is spreading more and more