On Antinatalism and Euthanasia || Acharya Prashant, with Ahimsa Fellows (2023)

Acharya Prashant

‍♂️ Want to meet Acharya Prashant? Be a part of the Live Sessions: https://acharyaprashant.org/hi/enquir...   Want to read Acharya Prashant's Books? Get Free Delivery: https://acharyaprashant.org/en/books?...  ~~~~~  Video Information: 04.04.23, with Ahimsa Fellows (Online-talk), Greater Noida  Context: What are two ethical issues in euthanasia? What is the principle of dignity in euthanasia? What questions are asked in an interview about euthanasia? What is the legality of the concept of euthanasia in India?  Music Credits: Milind Date  ~~~~~

Transcript

00:00So, Radhika's question is that regarding anti-Nepalism, is it high time for India to follow the one

00:09child policy like China did and is euthanasia for humans, should it be made legal in India?

00:20India is a concept, right?

00:22When you say India must do something, keeping in mind that we are some kind of functioning

00:29democracy, at least as of today, I don't know about 2024, but at least till today we are

00:39a functioning democracy.

00:42So how can India have any kind of policy if Indians are not, first of all, convinced about

00:53that policy?

00:56You remember the emergency times, right?

01:01And there was a policy to control population and it was enforced and it backfired and since

01:10then no politician has had the guts to talk about population control.

01:19So first of all, Indians have to be educated on the need and only when there is some kind

01:24of at least a loose consensus, then somebody can enact a policy and then something can

01:35be enforced as well.

01:37But if the population itself is unwilling, then such a measure would fall flat.

01:43But the good news is that probably now there is an emerging consensus and people are better

01:52educated and I hope better sense prevails because there are a lot of dissenting voices

01:58as well, people who talk of religious demographics and such things who say, you know, if this

02:10kind of a policy comes, then our numbers will shrink and the proportion of the other group

02:15would expand and there are just so many insecurities and concerns.

02:19If those can be somehow glossed over or ironed out, I think it's a beautiful idea to have

02:32a population control policy, a one-child policy or something.

02:36At least incentivize those who have the right kind of consciousness.

02:43If you cannot disincentivize, at least help those who choose to not to have kids or have

02:50just one kid.

02:51They must be strongly supported, promoted, honored.

02:58Euthanasia, well, that does not have too much to do with veganism or population control

03:07or even animal welfare or rights.

03:10But euthanasia is surely related to the matter of human dignity.

03:18When it comes to spirituality or self-knowledge, euthanasia definitely is an issue worth thinking

03:26of.

03:27So I think it behoves human dignity to have the right to choose one's death.

03:37And euthanasia has to be distinct from suicide.

03:44It is a thing of realizing that the time has come and the body is not going to hold up.

03:53The probability of recovery is just too slim, therefore, it does not make sense to just

04:00drag on.

04:02And when it comes to that and when medical experts can certify that the probability of

04:09revival or some kind of normal functioning life is less than, let's say, 1%, then the

04:18fellow must have the choice to opt out of life.

04:23I suppose it's dignified to go rather than just overstay your utility, your joy.

04:43No point just hanging on.

04:46Live a great life, live deeply, have challenges, have purposes, fulfill them and then depart

04:57with honor, depart with dignity, depart as a matter of choice, not as a matter of chance

05:03or compulsion.

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