ABSTRACT

The rapid increase in human population is one of the underlying factors driving the ecological crisis. Despite efforts on the part of educators to raise awareness of environmental issues, the ecological impact of a burgeoning population – and the ethical implications of having children – remains an unbroachable topic. Nevertheless, the increase in human numbers is central to questions of sustainability: How can a species expect to survive in a finite terrestrial environment without limits to its population?

Since most of the world’s ecological impact can be traced to capitalist-industrial- consumer societies in over-developed nations, the middle and upper classes in rich countries must weigh the ecological consequences of their family-planning decisions. In this paper, I argue that educational programs that are concerned with environmental ethics should have students examine the assumptions and implications of having children. I consider the risks associated with this proposal and respond to a series of possible objections. This paper does not advocate coercive measures for population control, but rather enjoins a pedagogical responsibility to view having children as an act with ecological consequences, an act that must be subject to careful examination.

摘要

人口的迅速增加是推动生态危机的根本因素之一。尽管教育工作者为提高对环境问题的认识做出了努力，但新兴人口对生态的影响以及生育子女的道德影响仍然是一个不容置疑的话题。尽管如此，人数的增加对于可持续性问题至关重要：一个物种如何在有限的陆地环境中生存而又不受其种群的限制？

由于世界上大多数生态影响都可以追溯到过度发达国家的资本主义-工业-消费者社会，因此富裕国家的中上阶层必须权衡其计划生育决策的生态后果。在本文中，我认为与环境伦理有关的教育计划应让学生研究生孩子的假设和含义。我考虑了与该提案相关的风险，并对一系列可能的异议做出回应。本文不主张采取强制性措施来控制人口，而是承担教育责任，将生孩子视为具有生态后果的行为，这一行为必须经过仔细的研究。