Longtermism: Potential research projects

Abstract

The article discusses various research projects in the areas of philosophy, economics, and forecasting, all related to the concept of longtermism – the idea that we should take into account the very long-term future when making decisions. Some of the specific questions raised include whether concern for the very long-term future is warranted under different moral theories, whether longtermism leads to the conclusion that existential risk reduction should be the highest priority, and how we should weigh the expected value of the continued existence of the human race against the possibility of negative outcomes. The article also provides a list of existing academic literature and informal discussions on these topics. – AI-generated abstract.