EconTalk Will MacAskill on Longtermism and What We Owe the Future
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Sep 5, 2022 Will MacAskill, a philosopher at the University of Oxford and a key figure in effective altruism, dives into the concept of longtermism. He passionately argues that caring for future generations is a moral obligation, challenging listeners to consider the implications of their choices today. MacAskill discusses the benefits of procreation despite climate concerns, the ethical weight of future lives, and the resilience of humanity through crises. He also reflects on historical moral courage in the fight against slavery, emphasizing individual responsibility in shaping a just society.
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Longtermism
- Morality involves understanding others' perspectives and treating their interests as our own.
- Considering the vastness of human history emphasizes the future, where most lives and experiences will occur.
Present Actions, Future Consequences
- Helping people today often benefits future generations.
- However, some present actions negatively affect the future, like CO2 emissions and biotech advancements.
Future Richness
- Future people might be richer than us, suggesting they should sacrifice for the present.
- This argument applies only to marginal harms, not catastrophic events or value shifts like slavery.
