Published:
12 October 2006
Online ISBN:
9780191712005
Print ISBN:
9780199296422
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Contents
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Can Coming into Existence Ever be a Harm? Can Coming into Existence Ever be a Harm?
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Lives Worth Living and Lives not Worth Living Lives Worth Living and Lives not Worth Living
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Lives Worth Starting and Lives Worth Continuing Lives Worth Starting and Lives Worth Continuing
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Why Coming into Existence is Always a Harm Why Coming into Existence is Always a Harm
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The Asymmetry of Pleasure and Pain The Asymmetry of Pleasure and Pain
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Comparing Existing with Never Existing Comparing Existing with Never Existing
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Other Asymmetries Other Asymmetries
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Against not Regretting One's Existence Against not Regretting One's Existence
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Cite
Benatar, David, 'Why Coming into Existence is Always a Harm', Better Never to Have Been: The Harm of Coming into Existence (Oxford , 2006; online edn, Oxford Academic, 1 Sept. 2007), https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199296422.003.0002, accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
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Chapter
2 Why Coming into Existence is Always a Harm
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Pages
18–59
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Published:October 2006
Cite
Benatar, David, 'Why Coming into Existence is Always a Harm', Better Never to Have Been: The Harm of Coming into Existence (Oxford , 2006; online edn, Oxford Academic, 1 Sept. 2007), https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199296422.003.0002, accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
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Abstract
Engaging the non-identity problem, this chapter begins by showing that it is possible to be harmed by being brought into existence. In the process, a distinction is drawn between two quality of life judgements — ‘a life worth starting’ and ‘a life worth continuing’. The chapter argues that coming into existence is always a harm. An asymmetry between pleasure and pain (and between benefit and harm more generally) is described and defended. Although the good things in one's life make one's life go better than it otherwise would have gone, one could not have been deprived by their absence if one had not existed. However, by coming into existence one does suffer harm.
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