About Long-termism

Interesting article in Aeon magazine about long-termism, a fringe philosophical perspective that emphasizes the importance of considering the long-term consequences of actions, decisions, and policies, rather than just the short-term benefit.

Interesting article in Aeon magazine about long-termism, a fringe philosophical perspective that emphasizes the importance of considering the long-term consequences of actions, decisions, and policies, rather than just the short-term benefit. 

But why do some think this kind of thinking is so dangerous? The author of the article Emile P. Torres, argues that elevating the fulfillment of humanity’s supposed potential above all else could nontrivially increase the probability that actual people – those alive today and in the near future – suffer extreme harms, even death. Consider, for example, argues the author, "our attitude towards climate change. Long-termists could argue that even if climate change causes island nations to disappear, triggers mass migrations, and kills millions of people, it probably isn’t going to compromise our long-term potential over the coming trillions of years. If one takes a cosmic view of the situation, even a climate catastrophe that cuts the human population by 75 percent for the next two millennia will, in the grand scheme of things, be nothing more than a small blip – the equivalent of a 90-year-old man having stubbed his toe when he was two."

I have some concerns with the author’s arguments about the dangers of long-termism. Like any perspective, it depends on how it is implemented and balanced with other considerations. It is important to find a balance between meeting today’s needs with those of the future. On one hand, long-term thinking can lead leaders, legislators and the public to make decisions that benefit future generations and protect the environment and our planet’s limited resources. On the other hand, if taken to the extreme, it can lead to neglect of immediate needs and concerns or result in suboptimal solutions that prioritise long-term outcomes at the expense of current well-being.