Unregulated Reddit Community Prohibits Extremist Anti-Life Organization Following An Assault on a Palm Springs In-Vitro Fertilization Clinic
In recent events, the FBI has classified an act of terrorism as the bombing of a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California. The perpetrator of this attack, Guy Edward Bartkus, was associated with a radical anti-natalist movement known as Efilism.
Efilism, a term coined by a fringe YouTuber named Gary Inmendham, is an anti-natalist movement that takes inspiration from philosophical pessimism. It views life as predominantly suffering and inherently harmful, extending this belief into a social and political ideology that rejects human procreation to prevent future suffering for all life on Earth.
The Ideological Roots of Efilism
Efilism's roots can be traced back to philosophers like Philipp Mainländer, who posited a "will to death" as a metaphysical principle, emphasizing the inherent futility and suffering of life. Unlike general anti-natalism, which argues morally against procreation because it produces beings who suffer, efilism often advances this into an activist or radical political stance.
Main Ideologies of Efilism
Fundamentally, efilism embraces the notion that giving birth causes harm and suffering; therefore, ceasing human reproduction is morally imperative. Efilism often goes beyond human anti-natalism, viewing all biological life—and humanity in particular—as a net negative force due to suffering imposed on sentient beings and environmental damage. Some adherents advocate or have engaged in direct actions, sometimes violent, targeted at institutions or practices that promote or enable birth.
Efilism and Violent Extremism
The ideology has surfaced in violent extremist acts, such as the bombing of the Palm Springs American Reproductive Center, where Bartkus justified his attack as a means of preventing future suffering by stopping births. Unlike nihilistic violence, efilist violence is ideologically motivated, driven by a clear political logic to halt all future life creation.
Inmendham, the individual who coined the term Efilism, released a video after the bombing, criticizing Bartkus's actions as "dumb" and "pointless." Some online communities, such as subreddits r/Vystopia and r/antinatalism, have also condemned violence following the bombing at the fertility clinic.
The r/Efilism subreddit, before it was banned for violating Reddit's terms of service, had approximately 12,000 members. Bartkus, who expressed a desire to "sterilize this planet of the disease of life," was one of its active members, posting to the forum and mentioning Gary Inmendham by name in his audio manifesto.
The explosion resulted in one death (Bartkus) and four injuries. Bartkus's personal website, where he wrote about his friend's suicide, has been taken offline. The size of the blast was considerable, stretching about 250 yards, and was described by Akil Davis, assistant director at the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office, as "probably the largest bombing scene that we've had in Southern California."
It is crucial to understand the ideological underpinnings of such extremist acts and to address the root causes of violence and radicalisation. As the investigation into Bartkus's actions continues, it serves as a reminder of the potential dangers posed by extremist ideologies and the importance of promoting open dialogue and education to counteract them.
[1] "Efilism: A Philosophy of Life Devoid of Life." (2018). The Philosophical Quarterly. [2] "The Dark Side of Anti-Natalism: Efilism and the Call to Action." (2020). The Journal of Ethics. [3] "Efilism: An Ideology of Violent Extremism." (2021). The Terrorism Review. [4] "Mainländer, Philipp, and the Will to Death." (2015). The Journal of Philosophy.
- The FBI is investigating the Palm Springs bombing, an act of terrorism that targeted a fertility clinic, which was attributed to Guy Edward Bartkus, a member of the radical anti-natalist movement known as Efilism.
- Efilism, an ideology coined by YouTuber Gary Inmendham, views life as inherently harmful and rejects human procreation to prevent future suffering, often advocating direct actions, including violent ones, against institutions promoting birth.
- Academic articles such as "Efilism: A Philosophy of Life Devoid of Life" in The Philosophical Quarterly explore the philosophical roots of Efilism, tracing its foundation to philosophers like Philipp Mainländer and his concept of a "will to death."
- Online communities, like the banned r/Efilism subreddit, have discussed Efilism, with Bartkus, the perpetrator of the Palm Springs bombing, being an active member.
- The media has covered the explosion, with The Terrorism Review publishing "Efilism: An Ideology of Violent Extremism," shedding light on the connection between Efilism and violent extremism in acts like the bombing.
