A hybrid event for Uehiro Oxford Institute Members and Associates (booking not required).
Abstract
How should we think ethically about the future possibility that humankind will become extinct? Some scientists have estimated that there is a one in 6 chance of this occurring in the next century.
On one philosophical view, ‘antinatalism’, it would be a very good thing for our race to become extinct. We should not regret the possibility of extinction (and may even take steps to accelerate this). On another view, (supported by longtermist philosophers), our extinction would be extremely bad, and its prevention is one of the key moral priorities of our time.
In this lecture, I explore the challenging ethical questions relating to the value of future lives, and its implications for policy and practice.
Speaker
Professor Dominic Wilkinson, Deputy Director and Director of Medical Ethics, Uehiro Oxford Institute
Venue
Uehiro Oxford Institute, Suite 1 Seminar Area, Littlegate House, 16-17 St Ebbe’s Street, Oxford OX1 1PT (buzzer 1)
Zoom
Please attend in-person if you can. If you need to join online, the Zoom link is available from the Institute's Internal Google Calendar, or on request from vara.raturi@tss.ox.ac.uk
