Longtermism, the view that emphasizes the importance of the long-term consequences of our actions, has predominantly been focused on humans. Gary O’Brien (2024) argues that this is a mistake and instead, longtermism should be animal inclusive. While I find merit in O’Brien’s core argument, I offer critiques to certain aspects of it in this article. Moreover, in the spirit of extending the sphere of moral considerability, I believe that we should also consider longtermism for environmental values…
Read moreLongtermism, the view that emphasizes the importance of the long-term consequences of our actions, has predominantly been focused on humans. Gary O’Brien (2024) argues that this is a mistake and instead, longtermism should be animal inclusive. While I find merit in O’Brien’s core argument, I offer critiques to certain aspects of it in this article. Moreover, in the spirit of extending the sphere of moral considerability, I believe that we should also consider longtermism for environmental values more widely. This article proposes a non-anthropocentric approach to longtermism that acknowledges not only sentient animals but also ecological systems and all forms of life to invoke a more diverse discussion about longtermism. It also explores potentially effective interventions that such an extended perspective might yield.
