Abstract

Lee1 raises ethical concerns about state-level pronatalist incentives in South Korea. This commentary examines the ethical foundations of procreation, arguing that certain motivations for having children—self-interest, patriotism and benevolence—may be inappropriate. I argue that virtuous procreation should be at least voluntary, responsible and respectful. Based on this framework, I suggest how governments can avoid unethical pronatalist policies. ### Inappropriate motives for procreation Procreation is unlike other actions: it creates a person rather than affecting existing ones. This makes it difficult to evaluate from traditional ethical perspectives. However, we can identify some inappropriate motivations for procreation. To begin with, it seems inappropriate to procreate merely out of self-interest. Some couples may choose to have children to secure care in their old age, treating procreation as an investment. While such self-interested prudence is not inherently problematic, using another person as a mere means for one’s own end is ethically questionable. Unlike existing individuals who can consent to be used in this way, the ‘yet-to-be-born’ cannot. Therefore, self-interest should not be the sole motivation for procreation. Similarly, patriotism is not an appropriate motive. While demographic decline may be a national crisis, procreating merely to solve it is similarly instrumentalises prospective children. …