Will MacAskill on what we owe the future

Abstract

“The core argument is very simple. One, future people matter morally. Two, there could be enormous numbers of future people. And three, that we can make a difference to the world they inhabit. So we really can make a difference to all of those lives that may be lived.”. In today’s in-depth conversation, we also discuss: • the possibility of a harmful moral ‘lock-in’ • How Will was eventually won over to longtermism • The three best lines of argument against longtermism • How to avoid moral fanaticism • Which technologies or events are most likely to have permanent effects • What ‘longtermists’ do today in practice • How to predict the long-term effect of our actions • Whether the future is likely to be good or bad • Concrete ideas to make the future better • What Will donates his money to personally • Potatoes and megafauna • And plenty more