Suppose atomic bombs had reduced the population of the world to one brother and one sister, should they let the human race die out? I do not know the answer, but I do not think it can be in the affirmative merely on the ground that incest is wicked.

Summary

In this quote, the author contemplates the ethical dilemma of whether or not two siblings, who become the last remaining humans after an atomic bomb event, should reproduce to save the human race from extinction. The author questions if the instinct to avoid incestuous relationships based on societal norms is a sufficient reason to let humanity perish. By highlighting the complexity of the issue, the quote challenges the idea that incest is universally wicked and suggests that survival instincts might outweigh moral prohibitions in extreme circumstances.

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