What if humans collectively decided to not have any new kids anymore and maximize quality of life for the humans that already are living on planet earth?
I would love to see this thought experiment thought out in detail. What decisions would we make? Where would we invest? Would climate control still be an issue?
It would change fuck all. The regions where there is still a lot of population growth (e.g. Africa) are so far behind in qualify of life compared to the massively CO2-emitting countries that any attempt to improve their qualify of life means we continue to increase the CO2 output for decades more.
Anyway, there is no chance that humans will collectively decide anything, least of all that.
First of all, humans are the only sentient beings in the known universe. Second, most humans have children because that is maximizing their quality of life - it is a living organisms instinct to replicate, and (most) humans are no different. If you feel different, check the stats on how many have children, and think, you may just be in a bubble. Humans have endured millennia of starvation and disease, try to keep our upcoming hardships in perspective.
Beyond reasons why it would not maximize our quality of life, collectively deciding to not have kids just would not do any good. You are taking people 'like you' out of the gene pool, while people who choose to not go with the collective will procreate.
most humans have children because that is
maximizing their quality of life
Citation needed. I have read several studies about which factors improve quality of life. I cannot remember a single one that had "children" in the list of factors that significantly improve happiness.
Parents often say their children bring them joy
but most research suggests kids cause financial
worry, stress and anxiety.
Second paragraph:
However, the latest research suggests children
do actually make people happier – but only once
they’ve left home.
That is in line with what most studies come up with as one of the central aspects of a happy life: Having friends. I would think that kids kinda fall in that category after they left home.
Forever. I mean, life is a natural consequence of the nature and physics of the universe, and human civilization is a natural consequence of life processes. Existence and progression is the meaning.
Scenario 1) The universe will end in heat death, the big rip, or other similar cosmic catastrophe.
Scenario 2) The universe continues on for infinity, giving plenty of time for even the most ridiculously unlikely of events to occur. It is therefore inevitable that humanity or whatever progeny it might have will still ultimately cease to exist.
Scenario 2 isn't actually so clear. Over time, humanity can decrease its suceptability to being wiped out by unlikely events at a faster rate then the events themselves over time.
Since the large majority of all humans will still be alive in twenty years the climate will still be ruined even if no more children were born starting today.
A good investment would be armaments and ammunition. The only way such inhumane rules could be satisfied would be through large-scale violent enforcement. "Collectively decided" is a euphemism.
I would love to see this thought experiment thought out in detail. What decisions would we make? Where would we invest? Would climate control still be an issue?