Asymmetry (population ethics)

Asymmetry in population ethics means that we believe it is worse for someone to come into existence and experience suffering than it is good for someone to come into existence and experience happiness. Imagine that you had a bag of candy and you knew that some of the candies would taste yucky (like broccoli-flavored candy) while others would be super delicious. You might decide that it's better if no one ever eats the yucky candy because it will make them unhappy, but it's only okay if someone eats the yummy candy because it will make them happy. This is kind of like how we think about people coming into existence. It's better if no one exists and suffers, but it's only okay if someone exists and is happy.