longtermist

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   A believer or follower of longtermism (“an ethical stance which gives priority to…

   A believer or follower of longtermism (“an ethical stance which gives priority to improving the long-term future”).

   • Longtermists are in daily conversation with neartermists. It’s a red herring to argue that “abandoning what would most help people on Earth today isn’t exactly ethically sound.”
   • Some longtermists, for instance, argue that we need to balance the need to address climate change now with the need to invest in colonizing space; they encourage us to think on a billion-year timescale.
   • It’s an article of faith among longtermists that an event that led to the loss of 99% of humanity would be vastly preferable to one that kills off 100%.
2. 2

   Of, pertaining to or supporting longtermism (“an ethical stance which gives priority to…

   Of, pertaining to or supporting longtermism (“an ethical stance which gives priority to improving the long-term future”).

   • Effective altruists talk about both “neartermism” and “longtermism.” Bankman-Fried said he wanted his money to address longtermist threats like the dangers posed by artificial intelligence spiraling out of control.

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