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Laurens Rademakers

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What motivated you (not) to have babies?

Man is unique: we are the only species with the capacity to decide to procreate or not to procreate. Other animals "just do it".

Certainly, subconsciously there may persist a biological "need" or an instinct to breed and propagate our genes. But still, consciousness allows us to decide not to do so.

In case you decided to have babies, or to not make babies, which is the main motivation for this decision?

-social pressure?
-ecological arguments ("overpopulation")?
-love?
-a subconscious urge?

My personal reason: I will (try to) make babies just because I can. And out of pure curiosity.

Related Talks:
Topics: fertility overpopulation
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    Renata K. 50+

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    Oct 8 2011: Very interesting answers here. I don't have children yet, and when I was younger I didn't even want to have any, for many logical reasons (overpopulation, financial reasons, etc.) But in the past few years I feel more and more like I want to have kids, it's a subconscious thought mostly, not an urge, just a desire. I know it will be challenging and in a way it's intimidating too, but I definitely want to experience it.

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