Longtermism: the Future Is Vast – What Does This Mean for Our Own Life? Max Roser (2023)

Big Think: Longtermism: The future is vast – what does this mean for our own life? by Max Roser (2023)

Here is a summary of the key points from the article:

– The article attempts to put the vastness of humanity’s potential future into perspective. It estimates that about 100-125 trillion people could be born in the next 1 million to 1 billion years if humanity survives.

– The vast future means our actions today have immense moral consequences, as they affect the lives of trillions of potential future people. This is the ethical view of “longtermism.”

– However, humanity faces catastrophic risks that could curtail that future, like nuclear war, pandemics, and risks from artificial intelligence. Reducing these existential risks should be a priority.

– Despite their importance, very little attention and resources are dedicated to mitigating existential risks. More effort needs to go into this neglected but crucially important area.

– As well as risks, the vast future also presents great opportunities to solve problems like poverty and disease, and create a flourishing civilization. Our descendants could enjoy lives far better than we can imagine.

In summary, the huge potential of humanity’s future teaches us we have a responsibility to be good ancestors. We should reduce existential risks, while also working to create a better future.

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