Disappearing beneficiaries argument Hi all
Thanks for your responses! I understand most of the points raised and yes Dingo I am essentially applying the butterfly effect.
So if I were to assume that most actions we take could result in different people being born, how can we say that doing things to benefit the future offspring (such as training to be a doctor, teacher etc.) really benefits people in the future if it's just going to change who is born? Obviously it will help HOWEVER is born but then doesn't it raise the ethical question of whether that is better than depriving someone of life who would have been born otherwise if we did not undertake that specific action?
I hope this makes sense!
Many thanks
Luke