Is it Better to Exist, or Not to Exist?

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I had the same kinds of thoughts as a child. I was constantly questioning and developing answers to these kinds of questions since about the age your child is. I don't think it matters that we exist. I don't think its important that we do exist. For most of the time that the unverse has existed, humans have not, and I expect that the universe will continue to exist for long after we do. Compared to the infinite amount of time of not experiencing anything before and after my life I do appreciate any time I get to experience anything now. It will take time for him to not be so afraid of existence vs non existence. Maybe mention the fact that while you are alive you can see some of the influences you have on the world and that though they might be small they can have a chain reaction kind of affect so can affect things long after we are here.

Bravo on letting him find his own way

I do not believe in cessation of existence, the whole idea is incomprehensible. As for whether it's better to exist or not to exist, well, not existing cannot be comprehended.

Interestingly, we who exist have experienced both. After all, before your first memory, there is the time you didn't exist. There's no reason to think after you live will be any different to before you did.

Each person can say for themselves which is better. I don't know which one is. It was easier before existence though, that's for sure.

As for your question, the point, meaning, it's whatever you want to define it as; explain that it's your son's choice in the matter (if you wish to, of course).

Don't give way to fear.

Does everything need to have a purpose?

I mean on the other hand what if you were told you did have a purpose assigned to you? You were born to fulfill a certain function that is wanted from you. Wouldn't you feel resentful and confined?

I'd be inclined to say he at least has Free Will and would that be in conflict with being assigned a Purpose for existing.

For me personally, it's better to exist. I'd rather be alive than not to have been brought into the world at all. In this life, I've set out to celebrate my differences and show the world that autism should be celebrated and not eradicated. There are many ways that I do this. Being myself and indulging in my special interests is one such example.

there is no thing outside of existence to compare it to, so how can you say one is better than the other? the other is only a concept; there is only the one. there is only existence, so the question, to life, is deeply irrelevant. what is IS, and what you think is is-not is not what you think. whether it is preferable to exist, compared with one's conception of non-existence, is only a matter of opinion. those whose experiences are predominantly undesirable to them and who lack the skill to cope may prefer the idea of no-experience. do what you can to help your son appreciate life as it is, but you cannot prove that he should.

My other purpose for existing is to be a nice person and do good things for good people. To help people out and expect nothing in return.

One can make the argument that it is better to exist because if one does not exist, it is impossible to have the concept of "better".

Life has no inherent purpose or meaning. The only meaning we have in life is that which we cobble together for ourselves. To say that it comes from a supreme being only confuses the issue. The best lives are lived intensely and focused on a personal philosophy that encompasses both individual need and our relationship to others.

If you live your life in such a way that you can die knowing you left the planet just a little bit better than you found it, that is good. If you leave it just a little bit worse, then perhaps it is better if you never existed.