Global Extinction and Animal Welfare: Two Priorities for Effective Altruism
Effective altruism should ultimately be for the promotion of aggregate welfare. Broad altruism does not confine welfare to humans only. Thus, two priorities for broad and effective altruism may include reducing the probabilities of global extinction and the promotion of animal welfare. The former is important because if we become extinct, we lose the enormous amount of welfare into the far future. Also, we are faced with extinction probabilities that could be reduced, including through better environmental protection. Moreover, if we can avoid extinction, we will likely be able to increase our welfare enormously through such scientific and technological breakthroughs like brain stimulation and genetic engineering. Whether artificial intelligence may threaten our survival soon will also be discussed. An effective way to promote animal welfare is to reduce animal suffering at low or even negative costs on humans.
Date: 22 February 2018, 13:00 (Thursday, 6th week, Hilary 2018)
Venue: Manor Road Building, Manor Road OX1 3UQ
Venue Details: Lecture Theatre
Speaker: Prof Yew-Kwang Ng (Nanyang Technological University)
Organising department: Department of Economics
Organisers: Dr Michelle Hutchinson (University of Oxford), Prof Hilary Greaves (University of Oxford)
Organiser contact email address: michelle.hutchinson@philosophy.ox.ac.uk
Part of: Global Priorities Seminars
Topics:
Booking required?: Recommended
Booking url: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/inaugural-atkinson-memorial-lecture-by-yew-kwang-ng-tickets-42144875457
Cost: Free
Audience: Public
Editor: Michelle Hutchinson