Thinking long term
If we want our decisions to have the best impact for all beings that can feel, we also need to think long term.
Two kinds of strategy
- Broad: they help in many different scenarios. Example: increasing consideration for all sentient beings, including aquatic animals, invertebrates, and possible digital minds.
- Targeted: they help in specific scenarios. Example: working to make sure artificial intelligence is developed with beings that can feel in mind.
Advantages and cautions
- Targeted strategies can have a huge effect if the expected scenario happens.
- Broad strategies help in almost every scenario, even without our knowing what the future will be like.
Precautions
When choosing long-term strategies, we need to be careful:
- don't rely too much on uncertain predictions;
- avoid actions that could backfire;
- think about how the ideas will be received by the public.
In short
- Thinking long term is essential for the best impact.
- Broad strategies help in many scenarios; targeted ones, in specific scenarios.
- We need to be careful with uncertain predictions and effects that backfire.