What are the most important moral problems of our time? | Will MacAskill

Summary

The speaker discusses the unprecedented power humanity now holds due to the Scientific and Industrial Revolutions, emphasizing the need for an ethical revolution to utilize our resources effectively. They introduce 'effective altruism,' a philosophy that uses evidence and reasoning to maximize good. The speaker outlines a framework for prioritizing global issues based on size, solvability, and neglect, highlighting three key areas: global health, animal welfare in factory farming, and existential risks to humanity's future. They argue for the importance of addressing these issues now to secure a prosperous and ethical future for all.

Takeaways

• 🌏 The economic history of human civilization was largely stagnant for the majority of its existence, with people living on the equivalent of one dollar per day.
• 💥 The Scientific and Industrial Revolutions marked a significant turning point, drastically changing the world's economic landscape and human potential to alter it.
• 🔍 The speaker advocates for an ethical revolution to align with our increased power to change the world, emphasizing that our ethical understanding has not yet caught up with our capabilities.
• 🤔 The concept of 'effective altruism' is introduced as a philosophy and research program aimed at maximizing the good that can be done through evidence-based and reasoned approaches.
• 🚀 The speaker presents a framework for prioritizing global problems based on their size, solvability, and neglect, suggesting that the most impactful issues are those that are large, solvable, and not widely addressed.
• 🏥 Global health is highlighted as a supersolvable issue with significant progress already made, such as the eradication of smallpox and dramatic reductions in disease mortality rates.
• 🐓 Factory farming is identified as a superneglected issue, with billions of animals suffering in conditions that could be improved at a very low cost, yet receiving minimal philanthropic attention.
• ⚠️ Existential risks, such as nuclear war or global pandemics, are presented as a critical priority due to their potential to derail civilization or cause human extinction, despite being relatively neglected.
• 🌟 The potential future of humanity is painted as vast and full of opportunities for progress and flourishing, with the caveat that it could be jeopardized by global risks.
• 💡 The importance of addressing existential risks is underscored by the fact that they affect future generations who cannot participate in current decision-making processes, making them a neglected area of concern.
• 🛠️ The speaker concludes by emphasizing the various ways individuals can contribute to mitigating these risks, including through financial support, political engagement, and choosing careers that focus on these issues.

Q & A

What significant change occurred in human history that transformed the economic graph from a flat line to a steep rise?

The Scientific and Industrial Revolutions were the extraordinary events that transformed the economic graph from a flat line to a steep rise, indicating a significant increase in human ability to change the world.

What is the concept of 'effective altruism' mentioned in the script?

Effective altruism is a philosophy and research program developed by the speaker and his colleagues, which uses evidence and careful reasoning to determine how to do the most good in the world, in response to radical changes brought about by the Scientific and Industrial Revolutions.

According to the script, what is the framework for determining the highest global priorities?

The framework for determining the highest global priorities is based on three criteria: the size of the problem, how easily solvable it is, and how neglected it is. Problems that are bigger, more solvable, and more neglected are considered higher priority.

Why is global health considered a high priority according to the script?

Global health is considered a high priority because it is 'supersolvable', with a track record of significant improvements in reducing death rates from diseases like measles, malaria, and diarrheal disease, and the eradication of smallpox.

What is the estimated cost of saving a life through the distribution of long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets?

The estimated cost of saving a life through the distribution of long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets is just a few thousand dollars.

What is the issue with factory farming as described in the script?

Factory farming is a high priority because it is 'superneglected'. It involves the suffering of 50 billion land animals used for food annually, living in horrific conditions, and the potential for significant improvement in their lives for just pennies per animal.

Why is the issue of existential risks considered a top priority in the script?

Existential risks are considered a top priority because they have the potential to permanently derail civilization or even lead to the extinction of the human race, and they are largely neglected due to their impact on future generations.

What is the estimated potential lifespan of the human race if it lives as long as a typical mammalian species?

If the human race lives as long as a typical mammalian species, it would have a potential lifespan of about two million years.

What is the argument for humanity's future potential being vast according to the speaker?

The argument for humanity's future potential being vast is based on the long lifespan potential of the human race, the earth's habitability for 500 million years, and the possibility of human civilization continuing for billions more if we expand to the stars.

What are some examples of powerful technologies on the horizon that could pose existential risks?

Examples of powerful technologies on the horizon that could pose existential risks include synthetic biology, geoengineering, and artificial intelligence, which could give humans the power to create highly contagious and lethal viruses, dramatically alter the earth's climate, and create intelligent agents with abilities greater than our own.

How can individuals contribute to addressing existential risks according to the script?

Individuals can contribute to addressing existential risks by supporting organizations that focus on these risks with their money, voting for candidates who care about these issues, engaging in political advocacy for greater international cooperation, and pursuing careers in relevant fields such as science, policy-making, and organizational management.