What We Owe the Future - Book Summary (2024)
William MacAskill
The book "What We Owe the Future" is a moral exploration of our responsibility towards future generations, arguing that our actions today can significantly shape the trajectory of humanity and that we should prioritize long-term impacts in our decision-making.
Key Ideas
01
In contemplating the future, we are urged to consider humanity as a single life, living through every human existence that has ever been and will ever be. This perspective prompts two key questions: Has life so far been worth it? And, looking ahead, do we anticipate a future of optimism or dread?
The future could be vast and could swing between being very good or very bad. Over the past few centuries, humanity has made significant progress. Life expectancy has increased from less than thirty to seventy-three years, extreme poverty has decreased from 80% to less than 10%, and literacy rates have risen from 10% to over 85%.
However, the future's value depends on two factors: the relative value of potential future worlds and the likelihood of realizing them. While the relative value of these worlds might cause pessimism, the argument is made that the future will be more good than bad, on balance. Therefore, ensuring survival is as important as improving our trajectory.
The value of the future is a complex issue, but the overall trend appears to be positive. The world has been improving over time, and while it's challenging to predict whether this will continue in the long run, there are grounds for optimism. The worst possible futures, or "anti-eutopias," are unlikely to be as bad as possible, and the best possible futures, or "eutopias," could be incredibly good.
In conclusion, while the future is uncertain, there is a strong case for optimism. The world has been improving, and there is potential for this trend to continue. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure survival and strive to improve our trajectory.
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The future of humanity is in our hands and the choices we make today will significantly impact the lives of future generations. We have a moral responsibility to consider the long-term implications of our actions and decisions. The concept of longtermism suggests that we should prioritize actions that have a positive impact on the vast number of people who will exist in the future. This includes improving societal values, navigating the development of AI responsibly, preventing the creation or use of new weapons of mass destruction, and maintaining peace between the world's great powers.
Actions:
Commit to Longtermism: Understand and embrace the concept of longtermism, which prioritizes the well-being of future generations.
Donate Wisely: Commit to donating a portion of your income to charities that focus on long-term impact.
Promote Peace: Advocate for peace and diplomacy to prevent conflicts that could lead to large-scale destruction.
Support Responsible AI Development: Support organizations and policies that promote the responsible development and use of artificial intelligence.
Educate Yourself and Others: Learn about the potential threats and opportunities that technological development presents for future generations.
Influence Policy: Engage in political processes to support policies that consider the long-term future of humanity.
Promote Value Changes: Advocate for societal value changes that could positively impact the future, such as environmental sustainability and equality.
Support Research: Support research into longtermism and related fields to better understand how we can positively impact the future.
Practice Sustainable Living: Adopt sustainable practices in your daily life to help preserve the planet for future generations.
Encourage Others: Spread the word about longtermism and encourage others to consider the long-term implications of their actions.
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