Why I don't focus on the Hedonistic Imperative

Abstract

This article discusses reasons why the author does not prioritize bio-related technologies as a strategy for reducing overall suffering: (i) biology may be replaced by machines in the upcoming centuries; (ii) influencing political and social trajectories might be more effective than implementing technological fixes; (iii) focus on technological development might have negative consequences, such as accelerating the development of harmful technologies; (iv) there is a correlation between personal suffering and a focus on reducing the suffering of others, hence a focus on human wellbeing could reduce empathy for non-human animals and far-future beings. The author argues that efforts should instead be directed towards reducing wild animal suffering because it is a more feasible and scalable solution – AI-generated abstract.