#640 - Malcolm Collins - Why Do So Many People Not Want To Have Children?
Jun 12, 2023
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Malcolm Collins, a pronatalist, Stanford MBA graduate, and venture capitalist, dives into the alarming decline in birth rates and its potential repercussions. He discusses the striking projection that Korea may face a 94% population extinction, examines the clash between modern ideals of equality and the declining desire for parenthood, and probes whether there’s a moral obligation to have children. Collins also tackles the influence of technology on reproduction and the cultural narratives shaping family dynamics today.
Population decline and declining birth rates have significant economic consequences, leading to the collapse of economies as the worker population decreases and debt-laden systems fall apart.
To counter declining fertility rates, cultural groups that have high fertility rates and engage with technology will thrive in the future. The focus shifts from the economy to individual human lives and cultures, as investing in cultural groups with high fertility rates becomes a priority.
Attempts to solve declining birth rates through authoritarian measures have proven ineffective in the past. Bans on abortion and other strict policies have not led to sustained increases in fertility rates. The real solution lies in cultural experimentation and finding new ways to maintain fertility rates while upholding values like gender equality.
If population decline continues, there is a risk of a monotheistic future dominated by conservative Christian and Jewish groups. The loss of genetic and racial diversity is a concern, and a focus on maintaining diverse cultural traditions becomes crucial to avoid a homogenous monoculture.
Deep dives
The Economic Consequences of Population Collapse
Population decline and declining birth rates have significant economic consequences, leading to the collapse of economies as the worker population decreases and debt-laden systems fall apart.
The Need for Cultural Experimentation
To counter declining fertility rates, cultural groups that have high fertility rates and engage with technology will thrive in the future. The focus shifts from the economy to individual human lives and cultures, as investing in cultural groups with high fertility rates becomes a priority.
The Dangers of Authoritarian Solutions
Attempts to solve declining birth rates through authoritarian measures have proven ineffective in the past. Bans on abortion and other strict policies have not led to sustained increases in fertility rates. The real solution lies in cultural experimentation and finding new ways to maintain fertility rates while upholding values like gender equality.
The Threat of Monotheistic Future
If population decline continues, there is a risk of a monotheistic future dominated by conservative Christian and Jewish groups. The loss of genetic and racial diversity is a concern, and a focus on maintaining diverse cultural traditions becomes crucial to avoid a homogenous monoculture.
Genetic selection and the future of human diversity
The podcast delves into the controversial topic of genetic selection and its potential impact on the future of human diversity. The speaker discusses their personal experience with in vitro fertilization (IVF) and the process of selecting embryos based on genetic sequencing. They argue that reproductive choices should be in the hands of individual families and cultural groups, and that the ability to select for certain traits can lead to a greater diversity of human experiences. They also touch on the ethical considerations and the potential for advancements such as IVG (in vitro gametogenesis) and artificial wombs to further shape reproductive choices.
Challenging declining birth rates and the concern for future generations
The episode highlights the importance of addressing declining birth rates and challenges the notion that it is not a concern for the future of human lives. The speaker emphasizes the need for philosophical sophistication in discussing this issue and considers the optimal population for the planet. They acknowledge the need for addressing existential risks like climate change, but reject the idea of not talking about declining birth rates. They also discuss the link between political leaning and heritability, raising questions about the future survival of cultural movements and philosophies.
Reproductive choices, cultural experimentation, and technology
The podcast explores reproductive choices, technological advancements, and their potential impact on human culture and diversity. The speaker discusses their personal experience with genetic selection and the use of IVF. They assert that reproductive choices should be a cultural decision made by individual families and cultural groups. The episode also contemplates the potential for future technologies like IVG and artificial wombs to expand reproductive options and increase human diversity. The speaker argues that cultural experimentation and the acceptance of diverse family structures could lead to unique ways of raising children and preserving cultural traditions.
Malcolm Collins is a pronatalist, Stanford MBA graduate, venture capitalist and an author.
What would the world actually look like if only the global population was only 500 million people? Given the current birth rate projections, we’re approaching a massive collapse. If you think a planet with too many people on it is bad, a planet with too few is even worse.
Expect to learn why Korea is projected to experience a 94% population extinction within the next century, why so few people actually want to have kids in 2023, why a ‘super virus’ has taken over the progressive movement, whether prosperity, equality, education and fertility are incompatible with each other, whether authoritarianism could fix this problem, if there’s a moral obligation to have children, the implications of using new technology for gene-editing & birthing via artificial wombs and much more...
