The population of an intelligent species is broadly correlated with the power of the species as a whole (think: rate of scientific progress), and thus its ability to realize its moral values.
In all but the most pessimistic cases, this outweighs any negative externalities of an increasing population: those concerned about humanity’s contributions to animal suffering, for example, might imagine a future where we use our power to develop a way to eliminate natural predation (e.g. using lab-grown meat to feed carnivores), or autonomously deploy anaesthetics in the wild.
Yes, there might be short-term moral costs on the way to power. But stepping back to see the vast upside it will surely bring, I have to conclude that depopulation is bad—even if we ignore the (potential) inherent value of an additional human life!
The population of an intelligent species is broadly correlated with the power of the species as a whole (think: rate of scientific progress), and thus its ability to realize its moral values.
In all but the most pessimistic cases, this outweighs any negative externalities of an increasing population: those concerned about humanity’s contributions to animal suffering, for example, might imagine a future where we use our power to develop a way to eliminate natural predation (e.g. using lab-grown meat to feed carnivores), or autonomously deploy anaesthetics in the wild.
Yes, there might be short-term moral costs on the way to power. But stepping back to see the vast upside it will surely bring, I have to conclude that depopulation is bad—even if we ignore the (potential) inherent value of an additional human life!