Disclaimer: This post is entirely based on my impressions of longtermism as informed by my interaction with the literature, other longtermists, and questions from curious non-longtermists. This post is not a critique of the work being done by longtermists currently but rather a push to widen the category of interventions being pursued under the longtermist umbrella. It may be that I am missing some key facts in which case I would greatly appreciate responses challenging my assumptions, claims, and conclusions. Finally, all views expressed here are solely mine and do not reflect any organizations I am affiliated with directly or indirectly. I take full responsibility for any harmful premises presented.

[Summary]

This post is a personal reflection on longtermism from my perspective as an African woman living and working in the continent. In the post, I make the claim that it seems as though pursuing the ‘flourishing of future generations’ such [...]

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Outline:

(00:45) [Summary]

(01:30) [Earlier impressions]

(04:11) [On the language of longtermism]

(05:00) [Formal v Substantive Equality]

(07:05) [My claim]

(11:18) [Closing remarks]

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First published:

August 17th, 2023

Source:

https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/2rRsjdrL9BEWC3d7C/personal-reflections-on-longtermism

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