Longtermism
Longtermism is a concept that the effective altruism (EA) community is divided on. It's all about thinking far into the future and making our choices today by thinking about how they will affect generations to come. As we are thinking about where we want to go in life, thinking from a longtermist perspective might change or reinforce some of your viewpoints!
At its heart, longtermism says that the well-being of future generations matters just as much as ours. It challenges the idea that time makes our actions less important. Think of it like burying broken glass in a forest – whether it hurts someone in five or 500 years, the damage is the same. Longtermism reminds us to take future consequences seriously. This sentiment is very divided in the EA and larger philosophical community, and this sentiment is constantly changing within these communities.
A major part of longtermism is realizing the potential of our long-term future. Humanity is just starting its journey, and the possibilities are mind-boggling. Future technology like AI, reduced poverty, and better ethics could improve life. But it also warns us about a scary future, like stagnation, conflict, or larger existential problems. Longtermism pushes us to act to prevent these bad scenarios. This has come in the form of sustainable energy policies for 100 years in the future, work to combat issues like misuse of synthetic biology, and examining potential global catastrophic risks.
But why is there a debate? Critics have concerns. They wonder if we can really predict and control the future when it's so uncertain. Plus, some worry that focusing on the distant future might make us ignore today's problems – sentiments being echoed with people voicing concern that we are focusing on climate change or other large-scale issues, instead of things like the economy or military/gun reform. These concerns are valid.
Longtermism doesn't tell us to forget about today's issues. Instead, it suggests that by dealing with today's problems, we can create a better foundation for future generations.
In the end, longtermism shows us that our choices affect many lives over time. It encourages us to embrace the incredible potential of our species while being careful not to cause unintended problems when using this idea. The conversation continues, and the future is uncertain. Longtermism invites us to explore uncharted waters where the stakes are high, but the possibilities are endless.
Works Cited
1. Moorhouse, Fin. “Longtermism: An Introduction.” Longtermism: An Introduction | Effective Altruism, 27 Jan. 2021, www.effectivealtruism.org/articles/longtermism.
2. Caney, Simon. “Political Short-Termism.” Academic Foresights, 2016, www.academic-foresights.com/Political_Short-Termism.