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I'll be up there, but should see my kids reach my current age. Hard for me to be optimistic about the world they'll inherit, though; I'm very concerned about th

I'll be up there, but should see my kids reach my current age. Hard for me to be optimistic about the world they'll inherit, though; I'm very concerned about the effects of climate change and the effects of things like diminishing ground water supply and ocean warming. Living in the US, I'm also concerned about their ability to afford healthcare if something catastrophic happens and the lack of meaningful social safety net. We may emigrate from the US to solve these problems. What do you think the world will be like in 40+ years that gives you hope?

mchusma 3y ago
Not OP but short answer: In 40 years, we are reasonably likely to have: functional immortality (cured natural death), brain augmentation, AI/machines able to do many things for us, fusion/renewable-based energy abundance, and more. In almost every measurable way the world is better now than it was 20 years ago, and 20 years before that. This is likely to continue. Climate change is concerning, but totally addressable with technology. We absolutely can fix ground water, ocean warming, carbon ratios. It involves will, resources, and the technology to be thoughtful of how we impact the planet, instead of randomly doing it as side effects. There are some "trivial" fixes for many issues that can be implemented if we decide we want to (paint 1/4 the sahara white, solar shades in space, etc). They are not hard and if things get bad we will take them more seriously. Healthcare affordability is essentially a policy issue, but there is no reason in 40 years that healthcare can't be effectively free with AI/Robotics driving down the cost.
- StevePerkins 3y ago
  > In 40 years, we are reasonably likely to have: functional immortality (cured natural death) This is laughable to the point where I suspect trolling/parody. Regardless, there should indeed be scientific advances ahead of us in the next 40 years. With the ongoing collapse in forward-looking fertility rates, there certainly better be.
  - yuppiepuppie 3y ago
    I wouldn’t go so far as to say immortality, but cures to standard diseases and ailments that lead to a shorter lifespan would be in my level of expectations.
    - StevePerkins 3y ago
      It is conceivable that we might have organ replacement for the most commonly failing bodily organs, and cancer treatments that come close to the term "cure". It is inconceivable that any of this will be available to 90+% of the human race, or even to most people in developed countries. Insulin has been available to diabetics for well over a century now. And yet..... well, technology is the not the greatest obstacle.
      - verve_rat 3y ago
        Insulin costs $5 for three months here. Plus $5 for the disposable needles. And the government is getting rid of the $5 charge on prescriptions soon. Don't tar the rest of the world with the US's brush.
- codr7 3y ago
  Depends, the current system only allows profitable changes.
- retrocryptid 3y ago
  interesting appraisal as life expectancy in the US has been going down for the last two years.
- tleb_ 3y ago
  We've not seen yet any project at that scale, which approaches terraforming. What makes you think we are capable of such? And is there anything that indicates we can obtain the natural resources to achieve them?
pizzafeelsright 3y ago
Life is really easy compared to 100 years ago. The trajectory is up - and short of a few nukes, EMPs, and global war the trend line is going up in almost every part of the world - compared to the previous generations. Rising healthcare is mitigated by insurance and personal responsibility. Climate change, drinking water, ocean warming, and other global disasters cannot be mitigated alone or individually and so we limit our concerns over what we can have a direct impact upon. My kids will work, provide for themselves, care for others, and have good attitudes. Death is inevitable. Hope is essential.

mchusma 3y ago

Not OP but short answer: In 40 years, we are reasonably likely to have: functional immortality (cured natural death), brain augmentation, AI/machines able to do many things for us, fusion/renewable-based energy abundance, and more. In almost every measurable way the world is better now than it was 20 years ago, and 20 years before that. This is likely to continue. Climate change is concerning, but totally addressable with technology. We absolutely can fix ground water, ocean warming, carbon ratios. It involves will, resources, and the technology to be thoughtful of how we impact the planet, instead of randomly doing it as side effects. There are some "trivial" fixes for many issues that can be implemented if we decide we want to (paint 1/4 the sahara white, solar shades in space, etc). They are not hard and if things get bad we will take them more seriously. Healthcare affordability is essentially a policy issue, but there is no reason in 40 years that healthcare can't be effectively free with AI/Robotics driving down the cost.

StevePerkins 3y ago
> In 40 years, we are reasonably likely to have: functional immortality (cured natural death) This is laughable to the point where I suspect trolling/parody. Regardless, there should indeed be scientific advances ahead of us in the next 40 years. With the ongoing collapse in forward-looking fertility rates, there certainly better be.
- yuppiepuppie 3y ago
  I wouldn’t go so far as to say immortality, but cures to standard diseases and ailments that lead to a shorter lifespan would be in my level of expectations.
  - StevePerkins 3y ago
    It is conceivable that we might have organ replacement for the most commonly failing bodily organs, and cancer treatments that come close to the term "cure". It is inconceivable that any of this will be available to 90+% of the human race, or even to most people in developed countries. Insulin has been available to diabetics for well over a century now. And yet..... well, technology is the not the greatest obstacle.
    - verve_rat 3y ago
      Insulin costs $5 for three months here. Plus $5 for the disposable needles. And the government is getting rid of the $5 charge on prescriptions soon. Don't tar the rest of the world with the US's brush.
codr7 3y ago
Depends, the current system only allows profitable changes.
retrocryptid 3y ago
interesting appraisal as life expectancy in the US has been going down for the last two years.
tleb_ 3y ago
We've not seen yet any project at that scale, which approaches terraforming. What makes you think we are capable of such? And is there anything that indicates we can obtain the natural resources to achieve them?

pizzafeelsright 3y ago

Life is really easy compared to 100 years ago. The trajectory is up - and short of a few nukes, EMPs, and global war the trend line is going up in almost every part of the world - compared to the previous generations. Rising healthcare is mitigated by insurance and personal responsibility. Climate change, drinking water, ocean warming, and other global disasters cannot be mitigated alone or individually and so we limit our concerns over what we can have a direct impact upon. My kids will work, provide for themselves, care for others, and have good attitudes. Death is inevitable. Hope is essential.