What We Owe the Future

In this sobering treatise, University of Oxford philosophy professor MacAskill (Doing Good Better) argues that improving humanity’s long-term future is a “key moral priority of our time.” The author contends that the threats posed by artificial intelligence, pandemics, climate change, and nuclear war make the present a pivotal moment in history, and urges readers to combat these threats and “ensure civilization’s survival.” On the many perils facing humanity, the author notes, for instance, that the kinds of engineered pathogens that escaped labs and wrought havoc in high-profile cases in the U.K. and former Soviet Union are going to get increasingly dangerous as biotechnology advances. Confident that humanity has the resources and resilience to deal with these problems, MacAskill suggests that people looking to change the world should evaluate their actions by considering if they would be significant, have long-lasting effects, and address a real need. To create a brighter future, MacAskill encourages eating less meat, donating to good causes, engaging in political activism, and entreating loved ones to adopt a “longtermist perspective.” MacAskill delivers a sweeping analysis of contemporary dangers that masterfully probes the intersections of technology, science, and politics, while offering fascinating glimpses into humanity’s possible futures. This urgent call to action will inspire and unnerve in equal measure. (Aug.)