Should We Go Extinct! A Philosophical Dilemma for Our Unbearable Times by Todd May
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Should we bring new humans into the world? Or would it be better off without us? Renowned philosopher and advisor to NBC’s The Good Place, Todd May, explores humanity’s future in his thoughtful examination, Should We Go Extinct?
“For more than five years, Todd May was my philosophical advisor. I heartily recommend that he be yours as well. (It helps that he’s quite funny.)”—Michael Schur, from the Introduction
These days, it's harder than ever to avoid contemplating the question at the heart of Todd May’s book. Facing climate destruction and the revived specter of nuclear annihilation, while humans continue to cause untold suffering to fellow creatures on Earth, we are forced daily to consider whether the world would be better off without us.
In this timely, fascinating examination, May reasons both for and against the continuation of our species. He helps us understand whether the positive and negative aspects of human existence are comparable, and what conclusions we might draw about ourselves and our future. May discusses the unique value humans bring to the world, such as art and music, which would be lost without us. Conversely, he explores the suffering we cause to nature and non-human creatures, questioning whether our merits justify such suffering, and what changes we could make to reduce the harm.
Amid rising pessimism about the future, and as many people ponder bringing children into a dark and difficult world, the questions May tackles are hardly theoretical. He examines ending factory farming, curbing animal testing, reducing the human population, and developing empathy with other creatures. May sketches a powerful framework for establishing our responsibilities as a species and gives hope that we might one day universally agree that the answer to his title question should be No. ❤️📚❤️
“For more than five years, Todd May was my philosophical advisor. I heartily recommend that he be yours as well. (It helps that he’s quite funny.)”—Michael Schur, from the Introduction
These days, it's harder than ever to avoid contemplating the question at the heart of Todd May’s book. Facing climate destruction and the revived specter of nuclear annihilation, while humans continue to cause untold suffering to fellow creatures on Earth, we are forced daily to consider whether the world would be better off without us.
In this timely, fascinating examination, May reasons both for and against the continuation of our species. He helps us understand whether the positive and negative aspects of human existence are comparable, and what conclusions we might draw about ourselves and our future. May discusses the unique value humans bring to the world, such as art and music, which would be lost without us. Conversely, he explores the suffering we cause to nature and non-human creatures, questioning whether our merits justify such suffering, and what changes we could make to reduce the harm.
Amid rising pessimism about the future, and as many people ponder bringing children into a dark and difficult world, the questions May tackles are hardly theoretical. He examines ending factory farming, curbing animal testing, reducing the human population, and developing empathy with other creatures. May sketches a powerful framework for establishing our responsibilities as a species and gives hope that we might one day universally agree that the answer to his title question should be No. ❤️📚❤️
Listed on 28 October, 2024