What We Owe the Future

Description

“This book will change your sense of how grand the sweep of human history could be, where you fit into it, and how much you could do to change it for the better. It’s as simple, and as ambitious, as that.” —Ezra Klein An Oxford philosopher makes the case for “longtermism” — that positively influencing the long-term future is a key moral priority of our time. The fate of the world is in our hands. Humanity’s written history spans only five thousand years. Our yet-unwritten future could last for millions more — or it could end tomorrow. Astonishing numbers of people could lead lives of great happiness or unimaginable suffering, or never live at all, depending on what we choose to do today. In What We Owe The Future, philosopher William MacAskill argues for longtermism, that idea that positively influencing the distant future is a key moral priority of our time. From this perspective, it’s not enough to reverse climate change or avert the next pandemic. We must ensure that civilization would rebound if it collapsed; counter the end of moral progress; and prepare for a planet where the smartest beings are digital, not human. If we make wise choices today, our grandchildren’s grandchildren will thrive, knowing we did everything we could to give them a world full of justice, hope and beauty. Copyright Dedication PART I. THE LONG VIEW Introduction Chapter 1: The Case for Longtermism Chapter 2: You Can Shape the Course of History PART II. TRAJECTORY CHANGES Chapter 3: Moral Change Chapter 4: Value Lock-In PART III. SAFEGUARDING CIVILISATION Chapter 5: Extinction Chapter 6: Collapse Chapter 7: Stagnation PART IV. ASSESSING THE END OF THE WORLD Chapter 8: Is It Good to Make Happy People? Chapter 9: Will the Future Be Good or Bad? PART V. TAKING ACTION Chapter 10: What to Do Acknowledgements Discover More About the Author Also by William MacAskill Appendices 1. Further Resources 2. Terminology 3. The SPC Framework 4. Objections to Longtermism Figure Credits and Data Sources Notes Afterwards