The 'Don't Have Kids' Argument Has Been Wrong for 1,800 Years

The Ancient Roots of Overpopulation Fear

Around 200 CE, Roman theologian Tertullian lamented humanity’s ‘burden’ on Earth, citing plague and famine as nature’s ‘merciful pruning.’ With just 200 million people then—and over 8 billion now—his warning echoes in modern degrowth rhetoric. Yet every era’s doomsayers have been proven spectacularly wrong.

Malthus’ Arithmetic and the Poor Law

Thomas Malthus’ 1798 essay predicted geometric population growth would outstrip arithmetic food production, justifying harsh poverty policies. His ideas influenced Britain’s 1834 Poor Law, which replaced welfare with workhouses. Ironically, global population surged past 8 billion, with average calorie intake rising dramatically, disproving Malthus’ ‘permanent famine’ thesis.

Ehrlich’s Panic and Borlaug’s Victory

In 1968, Paul Ehrlich’s The Population Bomb warned of mass starvation by the 1970s. Meanwhile, agronomist Norman Borlaug’s Green Revolution wheat strains transformed Mexico (1956), India (1970), and Pakistan (1968) from importers to self-sufficient producers. Borlaug’s work saved hundreds of millions from famine, while Ehrlich’s predictions became punchlines.

The Limits to Growth Model

The 1972 Limits to Growth computer model predicted industrial collapse by mid-century. Yet its assumptions—frozen emissions, no innovation—ignored humanity’s adaptability. Today, renewable energy costs plummet, and fusion research advances, rendering the model obsolete.

Government Enforcement of Population Control

From India’s 1975 sterilization quotas to China’s one-child policy (1980–2015), states enforced degrowth theories on the poor. China’s resulting gender imbalance (120 boys per 100 girls) and aging population now strain its economy, exposing the cruelty of top-down population management.

Modern Degrowth and the Carbon Footprint Fallacy

Today’s degrowthers cite a 2017 study claiming having one fewer child saves 58.6 tons of CO₂ annually. But this calculation assumes static emissions, ignoring decarbonization. A child born today in a grid-powered by renewables will emit far less than Ehrlich’s 1970s projections.

The Psychological Toll of Doomism

Surveys show 40% of Gen Z fears having children due to climate anxiety. Groups like BirthStrike (founded by Blythe Pepino) frame parenthood as ecological harm. Yet declining birth rates in South Korea (0.72 TFR) and Japan (1.2 TFR) reveal a demographic crisis, not an environmental solution.

The Human Cost of Anti-Natalism

Population doomsayers rarely apply their logic to themselves. Malthus had three children; Ehrlich raised a daughter. The essay argues that fearing future generations denies humanity’s capacity for innovation—from Borlaug’s wheat to CRISPR’s potential.

The Case for Hope

The world Tertullian called ‘full’ birthed every person you love, including those who’ll solve tomorrow’s problems. As climate engineering and AI advance, the greatest threat isn’t population—it’s surrendering to despair. The planet hath room for one more: yours.

‘The world hath room for one more.’ —Ja Westenberg