This is a project in philosophical ethics. The inquiry starts with a basic question: why would it be tragic if the human species went extinct in the near future? Some answers are fairly obvious: it would be tragic because of the loss of future welfare and because much of what we hold dear would come to an end. This project explores some less obvious answers: that the imminent demise of the species would be tragic because of our species’ great untapped potential, and because of our species’ morally compromised history. Contribution: Reflecting on humanity’s future is of great practical significance. The prospect of human viability on planet earth is anything but certain. As a species, we face significant challenges to our ongoing survival.

At the same time, we face extraordinary and daunting new possibilities, which may fundamentally alter the character of human life in the future, including the creation of advanced artificial intelligence and altering the human genome though genetic engineering. An urgent ethical task is to think carefully about the details of possible policies and identify moral principles which can guide decision-making about these complex matters. Just as importantly, however, it is worth reflecting on why any of this matters. Why does it matter whether humanity survives? What should we hope for as we look toward the future? The latter sorts of questions are much less frequently pursued in contemporary academic discussions. My hope is that the present project stimulates further research and reflection on these kinds of questions.