Browning, Heather and Veit, Walter
(2022)
Longtermism and Animals.
[Preprint]
Abstract
Work on longtermism has thus far primarily focused on the existence and wellbeing of future humans, without corresponding consideration of animal welfare. This omission shall be remedied here, providing reasons for and methods of extending longtermist thinking to all sentient animals. Given the sheer expected number of future animals, as well as the likelihood of their suffering, we argue that the well-being of future animals should be given serious consideration when thinking about the long-term future, allowing for the possibility that in some cases their interests may even dominate. We finish with a discussion of some potential interventions and areas of research focus that are likely to have the greatest impact, particularly steering individual and institutional value change toward those values, policies and structures toward those most likely to have positive effects for future animals.
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