This article argues that we need to consider the impact of potential catastrophes not just on people alive today but also on the long-term future of humanity.
The article draws on the paper Long-Term Trajectories of Human Civilization, which argues that actions we take today may affect the trajectory of human civilization millions, billions, or even trillions of years in the future. “If humanity can succeed at avoiding catastrophes, or if we can recover from them, then we may be poised for an incredibly bright future—one enriched by transformative technologies and expansion into outer space,” the article states. “But if we fail, the harm could be permanent.”
Image credit: project_lm9
