"unborn future billions" sounds so... abstract. Think of Petrov: http://lesswrong.com/lw/8f0/existential_risk/ http://lesswrong.com/lw/8f0/existential_risk/ W

"unborn future billions" sounds so... abstract. Think of Petrov: http://lesswrong.com/lw/8f0/existential_risk/ http://lesswrong.com/lw/8f0/existential_risk/ We effectively credit him with saving the world. If it weren't for him, most of us might not be around. I consider him a hero. From a moral perspective I would rather be him than Bill Gates, who has greatly reduced suffering and disease in the modern world. Just because of the impact on the future.