A reading club with a view to the future

127 William MacAskill: What We Owe the Future

MacAskill presents a moral framework for decision-making that prioritizes the long-term future and the well-being of future generations.

William MacAskill: What We Owe the Future

Summary

The book argues that our current social contract is inadequate for addressing the long-term global challenges we face, such as climate change, pandemics, and technological risks. MacAskill presents a moral framework for decision-making that prioritizes the long-term future and the well-being of future generations, and offers practical solutions for implementing this framework. Through engaging examples and clear explanations, the book encourages readers to think critically about their individual and collective responsibilities to the future.

About

Title: What We Owe the Future: A New Social Contract for a New Future

Author: William MacAskill

Publishing Year: 2022

Publisher: Little, Brown Spark

Length in hours: 8 hours and 55 minutes

5 main ideas

  1. We have a moral obligation to consider the interests of future generations in our decision-making.
  2. The current social contract is inadequate for addressing long-term global challenges, such as climate change and technological risks.
  3. A moral framework for decision-making that prioritizes the long-term future can help guide individual and collective action.
  4. There are practical solutions for implementing this moral framework, such as intergenerational equity and long-term planning.
  5. By taking action to protect the long-term future, we can create a better world for ourselves and future generations.
William MacAskill: What We Owe the Future

5 funny quotes

  1. "If you think long-term planning is boring, just wait until you see what short-term thinking gets you."
  2. "The future is like a savings account - the more you invest in it now, the greater the rewards you'll reap later."
  3. "If you're looking for a quick fix to the world's problems, you might as well be searching for the Holy Grail."
  4. "The best way to predict the future is to create it - or at least to make sure you're not actively working against it."
  5. "If you're not sure whether you're making a good decision for the future, just ask yourself: What would a responsible adult do?"

5 thought-provoking quotes​

  1. "Our actions today will shape the world of tomorrow, and we owe it to future generations to make responsible choices."
  2. "The future is not a given, but a choice - a choice that we make every day through our actions and decisions."
  3. "The current social contract is fundamentally flawed, as it neglects the long-term interests of future generations."
  4. "We are borrowing from the future to pay for our present-day pleasures, and the debt we are accumulating is immense."
  5. "The decisions we make today will determine whether we leave behind a world that is prosperous, just, and sustainable, or one that is marked by inequality, injustice, and ecological collapse."

5 dilemmas

  1. Balancing the interests of present and future generations in decision-making, particularly in the context of resource allocation and environmental protection.
  2. Addressing the issue of discounting, or valuing present benefits over future benefits, in economic and policy decisions.
  3. Determining the appropriate level of intergenerational equity, or the extent to which future generations should be given equal consideration in decision-making.
  4. Balancing individual freedom and responsibility with the collective interest in protecting the long-term future.
  5. Addressing the issue of political short-termism, or the tendency of elected officials to prioritize immediate gains over long-term benefits.

5 examples

  1. Greta Thunberg: The youth climate movement and the importance of intergenerational equity.
  2. Elon Musk: The development of renewable energy and the potential for technological solutions to environmental problems.
  3. Jeffrey Sachs: The concept of sustainable development and the need for global cooperation to achieve it.
  4. Rachel Carson: The impact of pollution on the environment and the role of individual action in addressing it.
  5. John Rawls: The theory of justice and the importance of considering the interests of future generations.

Referenced books

  1. "The Life You Can Save: How to Do Your Part to End World Poverty" by Peter Singer
  2. "The Moral Landscape: How Science Can Determine Human Values" by Sam Harris
  3. "Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies" by Nick Bostrom
  4. "The Precipice: Existential Risk and the Future of Humanity" by Toby Ord
  5. "Ethics in the Real World: 82 Brief Essays on Things That Matter" by Peter Singer

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"We are borrowing from the future to pay for our present-day pleasures, and the debt we are accumulating is immense."

William MacAskill: What We Owe the Future
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