id: 76d2edcf-f821-4db8-97a3-c1a571504e67
slug: What-We-Owe-the-Future
cover_url: null
author: William MacAskill
about: Grappling with humanity's fate, What We Owe the Future reveals how our actions today ripple across thousands of years. MacAskill argues that people in 2300 matter as much as those alive now - a radical shift from short-term thinking. His counterintuitive take: Small choices we make today could impact billions of future lives more than helping those in need right now.
icon_illustration: https://myeyoafugkrkwcnfedlu.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/Icon_Images/William-MacAskill.png
author_id: 0b3c9a05-e818-466b-a0b4-865c160360bf
city_published: Oxford
country_published: United Kingdom
great_question_connection: William MacAskill's "What We Owe the Future" intersects profoundly with fundamental questions about morality, knowledge, and human purpose, particularly in how we conceptualize our obligations to future generations. The work naturally engages with the tension between present actions and future consequences, reflecting deep philosophical inquiries about whether future generations should have equal moral worth to present ones. \n \n The text grapples with questions of moral objectivity versus cultural relativism, especially pertinent when considering how our current decisions might impact societies centuries hence. MacAskill's perspective challenges us to consider whether moral truth is objective or relative to cultures, and whether we can legitimately judge future implications of present actions using our current ethical framework. \n \n The book's exploration of longtermism raises essential questions about consciousness, reality, and human purpose. When considering whether consciousness is fundamental to reality or if there's purpose in evolution, MacAskill's work suggests that human consciousness and its potential future forms should factor significantly into our moral calculations. This connects to deeper questions about whether artificial intelligence could truly understand human emotions or if consciousness itself is evidence of divinity. \n \n The text engages with epistemological questions about certainty and knowledge, particularly relevant when making decisions that affect the distant future. Can we ever be completely certain about long-term outcomes? The philosophical tension between "Is truth more like a map we draw or a territory we explore?" becomes crucial when planning for humanity's future. MacAskill's work suggests that while perfect knowledge might be impossible, we must still act on our best understanding. \n \n Questions of justice and equality permeate the work, especially regarding intergenerational equity. Should
we prioritize local or global justice? Should future generations have political rights? These considerations become particularly poignant when examining whether we should value stability over perfect justice, or whether radical change is sometimes necessary for progress. \n \n The book also touches on the relationship between individual rights and collective welfare, particularly relevant when considering humanity's long-term future. Should we value individual rights over collective welfare, especially when the collective includes future generations? This connects to questions about whether perfect justice is worth any price and whether the majority's will should always prevail over individual rights. \n \n MacAskill's work implicitly addresses whether pure altruism is possible and whether ends can justify means, particularly when considering actions that might benefit future generations at the expense of present ones. This leads to profound questions about whether creating happiness is more important than preserving authenticity, and whether we should prioritize reducing suffering or increasing happiness across time. \n \n The text's longtermist perspective necessarily engages with questions about whether reality is fundamentally good and whether meaning is found or created. These philosophical inquiries become practical concerns when determining how to shape humanity's future trajectory. The work suggests that while we might never achieve perfect knowledge or certainty, we have a moral obligation to consider and act upon our best understanding of what will benefit future generations.
introduction: A groundbreaking philosophical treatise on longtermism and humanity's moral obligations to future generations, "What We Owe the Future" (2022) represents William MacAskill's ambitious exploration of how present-day actions shape the vast expanse of human potential. This influential work, which rapidly gained prominence in both academic circles and popular discourse, presents a compelling argument for considering the welfare of future generations as a crucial moral imperative. \n \n Published during a period of increasing global uncertainty marked by climate change, technological advancement, and societal upheaval, the book emerged as a thoughtful response to mounting questions about humanity's long-term trajectory. MacAskill, an associate professor of philosophy at Oxford University and co-founder of the effective altruism movement, draws upon historical analysis, moral philosophy, and empirical research to construct his argument for longtermism—the view that positively influencing the long-term future is a key moral priority of our time. \n \n The work's central thesis challenges traditional temporal boundaries of moral consideration, arguing that future people matter just as much as those alive today. Through careful examination of historical contingencies, from the Industrial Revolution to the abolition of slavery, MacAskill demonstrates how pivotal moments in history have shaped the course of human civilization, suggesting that contemporary society stands at similarly crucial junctures. The book explores four primary areas of potential impact: preventing human extinction, moral progress, technological development, and societal resilience. \n \n Since its publication, "What We Owe the Future" has sparked intense debate across disciplines, from philosophy to economics to public policy. Its ideas have influenced discussions about artificial intelligence safety, climate change mitigation, and institutional design for long-term decision-making. The w
ork has garnered attention from prominent figures including Bill Gates and has been translated into multiple languages, though it has also faced criticism for its utilitarian framework and specific empirical claims. \n \n The book's legacy continues to evolve as humanity grapples with unprecedented challenges and opportunities. Its central question—how current generations should act as trustees for humanity's future—remains deeply relevant as technological capabilities expand and global risks multiply, inviting readers to consider their own role in shaping humanity's trajectory across the vast expanse of time ahead.