Consider these facts:
1/ You only transmit 50% of your genes when reproducing, and you have no control over what genes get into the embryo. Crossing-over during meiosis ensures a semi-random gamete creation. For all you know, your wife may contribute more "brain genes" than you to your child. Your child may resemble his mother more than his father in behavior and intelligence. And he may inherit your bad looks on top of that.
2/ At each generation, your genes get diluted further and further. Your great-great-great-great-grandchildren will have nothing in common with you. Do you even know who your great-great-grandfather was?
3/ "Education" mostly fails. Children who turn out exactly how their parents hoped for are rare. Peer influence, school milieu, mental health and genetics play a bigger role in outcomes than parental investment. See The Nurture Assumption. Most parents are disappointed by their children. Some even live a nightmare because of their children. Your 10-year old boy may, or may not, listen to your wise words of advice during a forest trip.
4/ People who say reproducing is altruistic (usually, it's linked to a political and religious discourse accusing modern westerners of hedonism and selfishness) are liars. Actual altruism is adopting an orphan. People who reproduce do so out of narcissism or social custom.
5/ Millions of good men in history died without children due to war, religious vows, natural infertility or tragedies. Many geniuses died without children. It's not a big deal to die without children.
If you are obsessed about reproduction, and depressed over dying without children, you are uneducated and looking for an excuse to be depressed.
1/ You only transmit 50% of your genes when reproducing, and you have no control over what genes get into the embryo. Crossing-over during meiosis ensures a semi-random gamete creation. For all you know, your wife may contribute more "brain genes" than you to your child. Your child may resemble his mother more than his father in behavior and intelligence. And he may inherit your bad looks on top of that.
2/ At each generation, your genes get diluted further and further. Your great-great-great-great-grandchildren will have nothing in common with you. Do you even know who your great-great-grandfather was?
3/ "Education" mostly fails. Children who turn out exactly how their parents hoped for are rare. Peer influence, school milieu, mental health and genetics play a bigger role in outcomes than parental investment. See The Nurture Assumption. Most parents are disappointed by their children. Some even live a nightmare because of their children. Your 10-year old boy may, or may not, listen to your wise words of advice during a forest trip.
4/ People who say reproducing is altruistic (usually, it's linked to a political and religious discourse accusing modern westerners of hedonism and selfishness) are liars. Actual altruism is adopting an orphan. People who reproduce do so out of narcissism or social custom.
5/ Millions of good men in history died without children due to war, religious vows, natural infertility or tragedies. Many geniuses died without children. It's not a big deal to die without children.
If you are obsessed about reproduction, and depressed over dying without children, you are uneducated and looking for an excuse to be depressed.
