What We Owe the Future
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What We Owe the Future
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Narrated by:
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William MacAskill
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Written by:
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William MacAskill
About this listen
An Oxford philosopher makes the case for “longtermism”—that positively influencing the long-term future is a key moral priority of our time
The fate of the world is in our hands. Humanity’s written history spans only five thousand years. Our yet-unwritten future could last for millions more—or it could end tomorrow. Astonishing numbers of people could lead lives of great happiness or unimaginable suffering, or never live at all, depending on what we choose to do today.
In What We Owe The Future, philosopher William MacAskill argues for longtermism, that idea that positively influencing the distant future is a key moral priority of our time. From this perspective, it’s not enough to reverse climate change or avert the next pandemic. We must ensure that civilization would rebound if it collapsed, counter the end of moral progress, and prepare for a planet where the smartest beings are digital, not human.
If we put humanity’s course to right, our grandchildren’s grandchildren will thrive, knowing we did everything we could to give them a world full of justice, hope, and beauty.
©2022 William MacAskill (P)2022 Recorded BooksWhat listeners say about What We Owe the Future
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Haydn M Baggaley
- 2022-12-20
Insightful and informitive
Eye opening and reassuring at the same time. The world would be better place if everyone took serious what is in this book.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Julie Principe
- 2022-10-20
Banger
This book is a banger. It’s a complex topic but written in a very understandable and digestible way. Probably the most a book has changed how I’ll live my life.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Jody
- 2022-12-03
Carefully thought out without being preachy
I got this book on the advice of Kurzgesagt and I wasn't disappointed. The author made a strong argument, with empirical backing, for effective altruism while still showing his personal response and keeping it interesting. Open minded and flexible while still sticking to ideals.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 2022-08-30
I feel privileged to have read this book.
I truly enjoyed this, I even laughed out loud, which I was not expecting from a book about effective altruism.
It helped me think about my place in the world with gratitude. The clear distillation of all that research into a pleasant, upbeat learning experience is truly an art.
This is my first time writing a review, done because I feel so strongly that it want others to hear this. I will recommend this to friends and family.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Stanley Jones
- 2022-12-29
Gives some perspective to challenges we face
Was interesting to have alternative points of view presented on what needs to be done to address the challenges the world faces. Also puts a positive spin on situations I tend to be pessimistic about.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Cícero Artifon
- 2022-10-17
Life changing
it was hard to stop listening to do something else. I even bought the book to be able to listen and read for the second time!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Krista Salter
- 2022-11-13
challenged my way of thinking
very thought provoking book. brought up topics that I had not considered before and challenged my beliefs on certain topics. well worth the time
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- J GAJARDO
- 2022-11-03
You owe yourself a read of this book
I almost never review... But this is worth it for you and our future.
We need translations of this book.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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- Maxterm
- 2023-04-07
A landmark in naviete
I dont even know where to begin. If you want a summary of all the brainwashing done to the public wrapped in one neat text and sprinkled with naive assumptions and projections into the future, this is the book for you…
I stopped reading when the authot went ahead and made utterly naive projections of how civilization will look like in 10,000 (nobody even 50 years ago could have ever predicted the world we live in now), and just assumed that all limitations we have right now will still apply. Then went on to project these limitations a few billion years into the future.
What broke the camels back was how he suggested that if only people 1000 years ago would have known how they are changing climate and let species get extinct, they could have acted differently yet completely fails to understand that even right now, all developing countries continue to destroy the planet and that they absolutely have no other choice even if they wanted ro. This book is absurd. Written by a child for children.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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- Bryenna
- 2022-12-10
Detailed but full of naive assumptions
Very detailed in his breakdown of theory which is great.
Long-term view into the future, which makes us think more of our actions today and the impact of those ahead of us.
Intriguing concepts to ponder.
Has lots of naïve assumptions some futuristic theories are based on which makes his conclusions inaccurate … I.e. climate change, world government.
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