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Week 5: Longtermism

Authored by Mr CHAN

Philosophy

University

Used 4+ times

Week 5: Longtermism
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5 questions

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1.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

Given the scale of human existence so far,

humanity might be just at its infancy; it may exist for a very long time yet

we have probably reached the height of our civilisation, and should be careful of civilisational collapse

population growth is becoming unsustainable unless we colonise mars

it is remarkable that humanity has not yet gone extinct

Answer explanation

Humans have existed for 300,000 years. Mammals have an average species "lifespan" from origination to extinction of about 1 million years, although some species persist for as long as 10 million years.

"if human beings survive as long as the average mammal species, then for every person alive today, a thousand people will live in the future. We are the ancients. On the scale of a typical human life, humanity today is barely an infant struggling to walk." - William Macaskill

2.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

Which of the following is NOT a reason that some people care about the long term future of humanity?

Gratitude to ancestors propels them to be a good ancestor to future descendants

Many more people will exist in the future than currently exist now – they deserve a voice.

Near-term problems are not really solvable.

Making the future big and long so that as many happy people will exist as possible.

3.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

How many humans have ever lived?

~10 billion

~1 billion

~100 billion

~1 trillion (1000 billion)

4.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

According to Holden Karnofsky in "This Can't Go On," why can't humanity sustain a growth rate of 2% for 10000 years?

It would require us to sustain multiple economies as big as today's entire world economy per atom

Growth is reliant on the burning of fossil fuels, which will run out soon

Human birthrates are declining rapidly, so there won't be enough people to work

Humanity will definitely be extinct in 10000 years

5.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What reason is NOT given for disagreeing with longtermism in "Why I am probably not a longtermist"?

Humanity isn't inherently good

People far away don't matter

Utilitarianism isn't very compelling

The future might not be better than today

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