One way of coping with the issues of overpopulation and dwindling
resources is to institute policies concerning population control. Today we see population control being implemented
in China, where the population already exceeds 1 billion. It is hardly
surprising that science fiction writers have envisioned worlds where such
control is mandated by the government.
One way of controlling the population is to control who
gives birth and how many babies are allowed.
In the novel Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card, Ender Wiggin is
bullied for being a “third.” In a world
where families are almost always restricted to bearing only two children, Ender
is singled out by this. Some see him as
someone who shouldn’t exist in the first place.
We also see futures where people are required to obtain a
license before having children. In
worlds where this is the norm, how do you decide who gets a license and who
doesn’t? Is it based on genetics and
intelligence? What are the ethical
implications of this kind of eugenics program?
How do you balance the interests of humanity as a whole with the rights
of the individual? Should the government
have any right to limit how many children their citizens have?
Sometimes people are expected to forfeit their lives. This helps control the population, as well as
eliminates many issues associated with end-of-life care. We see this in Logan’s Run and the episode “Half
a Life” from Star Trek TNG. Should the government be able to determine
when its citizens die? How do you
determine when a person’s life should end?
How can such a determination ever be made when each person’s
circumstances are different? Consider
all the contributions these people might have possibly been able to make to the
world had they been allowed to live. Is
the harm done to society by cutting off that potential worth the benefits of
such a policy?
In the Sliders
episode “Luck of the Draw,” people voluntarily take part in the lottery. Those who win get money and all sorts of
perks, but most of that will be enjoyed by their families as the winners will
forfeit their lives soon after. Should
people be encouraged to make that kind of sacrifice? Is this kind of voluntary system preferable
to one that limits one’s right to have children, or should the lives of those
who already exist take precedence?
What other versions of population control have you seen
depicted, and what are the ethical ramifications?
