#1069 Todd May: Should We Go Extinct?

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Mar 10, 2025

Todd May, a Professor of Philosophy at Warren Wilson College and author of 'Should We Go Extinct?', dives into the provocative dilemma of human extinction. He explores the moral complexities surrounding our existence, weighing the value humanity brings against the harm we cause. The discussion touches on antinatalism, the ethics of factory farming, and the implications of effective altruism. Ultimately, May invites listeners to contemplate the worth of life itself and the difficult questions surrounding our impact on the planet.

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INSIGHT

Existential Inquiry

Todd May's book aims to spark conversation about human extinction and our moral justification for existing.
He explores humanity's value, harms, and potential actions for a morally justifiable continued existence.

INSIGHT

Reasons for Extinction

Some believe human life is inherently unhappy and not worth propagating.
Others argue our harm to the planet necessitates extinction, citing issues like factory farming and climate change.

INSIGHT

Extinction Scenarios

Todd May envisions a "Children of Men" scenario for human extinction, where we become infertile.
This allows other life to persist, unlike climate crisis or nuclear war scenarios.

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Dr. Todd May is Professor of Philosophy at Warren Wilson College. He is a political philosopher who writes on topics of anarchism, poststructuralism, and post-structuralist anarchism. He is the author of eighteen books of philosophy, most recently Should We Go Extinct?: A Philosophical Dilemma for Our Unbearable Times.

In this episode, we focus on “Should We Go Extinct?”. We start by framing the debate between people who are in favor and against human extinction, and we talk about the different kinds of extinction, and arguments in favor and against human extinction. We also discuss the value that humanity brings to the world, as well as the harms. We talk about antinatalism, longtermism, and Dr. May’s own position.

A HUGE THANK YOU TO MY PATRONS/SUPPORTERS: PER HELGE LARSEN, JERRY MULLER, BERNARDO SEIXAS, ADAM KESSEL, MATTHEW WHITINGBIRD, ARNAUD WOLFF, TIM HOLLOSY, HENRIK AHLENIUS, FILIP FORS CONNOLLY, ROBERT WINDHAGER, RUI INACIO, ZOOP, MARCO NEVES, COLIN HOLBROOK, PHIL KAVANAGH, SAMUEL ANDREEFF, FRANCIS FORDE, TIAGO NUNES, FERGAL CUSSEN, HAL HERZOG, NUNO MACHADO, JONATHAN LEIBRANT, JOÃO LINHARES, STANTON T, SAMUEL CORREA, ERIK HAINES, MARK SMITH, JOÃO EIRA, TOM HUMMEL, SARDUS FRANCE, DAVID SLOAN WILSON, YACILA DEZA-ARAUJO, ROMAIN ROCH, DIEGO LONDOÑO CORREA, YANICK PUNTER, CHARLOTTE BLEASE, NICOLE BARBARO, ADAM HUNT, PAWEL OSTASZEWSKI, NELLEKE BAK, GUY MADISON, GARY G HELLMANN, SAIMA AFZAL, ADRIAN JAEGGI, PAULO TOLENTINO, JOÃO BARBOSA, JULIAN PRICE, EDWARD HALL, HEDIN BRØNNER, DOUGLAS FRY, FRANCA BORTOLOTTI, GABRIEL PONS CORTÈS, URSULA LITZCKE, SCOTT, ZACHARY FISH, TIM DUFFY, SUNNY SMITH, JON WISMAN, WILLIAM BUCKNER, PAUL-GEORGE ARNAUD, LUKE GLOWACKI, GEORGIOS THEOPHANOUS, CHRIS WILLIAMSON, PETER WOLOSZYN, DAVID WILLIAMS, DIOGO COSTA, ALEX CHAU, AMAURI MARTÍNEZ, CORALIE CHEVALLIER, BANGALORE ATHEISTS, LARRY D. LEE JR., OLD HERRINGBONE, MICHAEL BAILEY, DAN SPERBER, ROBERT GRESSIS, IGOR N, JEFF MCMAHAN, JAKE ZUEHL, BARNABAS RADICS, MARK CAMPBELL, TOMAS DAUBNER, LUKE NISSEN, KIMBERLY JOHNSON, JESSICA NOWICKI, LINDA BRANDIN, GEORGE CHORIATIS, VALENTIN STEINMANN, PER KRAULIS, ALEXANDER HUBBARD, BR, MASOUD ALIMOHAMMADI, JONAS HERTNER, URSULA GOODENOUGH, DAVID PINSOF, SEAN NELSON, MIKE LAVIGNE, JOS KNECHT, LUCY, MANVIR SINGH, PETRA WEIMANN, CAROLA FEEST, STARRY, MAURO JÚNIOR, 航豊川, TONY BARRETT, BENJAMIN GELBART, NIKOLAI VISHNEVSKY, STEVEN GANGESTAD, AND TED FARRIS!

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