Lec 5: An extension of utilitarianism – Longtermism

Question 1

is longtermism anthropocentric?

Answer 1

highly

Question 2

which type of risk does longtermism focus on?

Answer 2

existential risk

Question 3

what are the 2 main underlying thoughts in longtermism?

Answer 3

trust in human progress
- trend in western thinking that we should doubt human progress and romanticize the primitive

inductive thinking
- although world populations may drop, the total number of people in the future is HUGE

Question 4

What is longtermism aiming at?

Answer 4

thinking big! don’t focus on small, individual actions. invest in SF-like technologies

Question 5

What are the 4 objections to longtermism?

Answer 5

feasibility
- our imagination does not allow us to care for people in 1000 years

uncertainty

• need to apply precautionary principle
• so many unknowns, how do we calculate the good of future people?

lack of trust in human progress
- if modernity CREATED environmental problems, how can it FIX them?

crazy idea of IT billionaires

Question 6

what is the goal of environmental ethics?

Answer 6

• not clear
• we don’t know if it’s about romanticizing the primitive or embracing tech
• don’t know if it’s about thinking small or thinking big