spinoza on procreation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12957/childphilo.2025.90626Keywords:
spinoza;, affectivity, procreation, freedom, philosophy of loveAbstract
This paper offers a Spinozistic argument for the ethical value of procreation, situating the decision to have children within Spinoza’s metaphysics and ethics. Contemporary debates on procreation often frame it in terms of individual autonomy, social duty, or ecological concerns, but Spinoza’s philosophy provides a distinct perspective—one grounded in rational striving, love, and the expansion of human power. By examining Spinoza’s notions of conatus, individuation, and affectivity, this paper argues that procreation, when approached rationally and with freedom of mind, is not merely a biological act but an ethical affirmation of life. Spinoza’s causal framework suggests that ideally a child is an effect of a rational love, and their flourishing depends on the quality of that love insofar as it is a cause. Moreover, raising a child in a Spinozistic spirit is an extension of this rational love, offering a path to greater understanding, freedom, and joy. Ultimately, this paper repositions procreation as a meaningful and empowering choice within Spinoza’s broader vision of human flourishing.
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