Are We Doomed? Ethics, Economics, and the Future

We stand at a precipice. The decisions we make now may significantly impact how the future of humanity will unfold---and whether there is a future for humanity at all. This course surveys important social, political, and ethical issues regarding our present moment (e.g., climate change, AI safety, etc.), and delves into philosophical issues underlying our concern for the future of humanity. What do we owe future generations? Do we have an obligation to ensure that humanity avoids extinction? Do considerations about the long-term future outweigh present concerns? And how should we evaluate the long-term future, given how uncertain it is?