I like this. Ryan’s original example, whilst a pretty good suggestion overall, gives the impression of insignificance, whereas this one gives the impression of insignificance mixed with vast potential and hope for something more.
The only reservation I have is that this flag might imply that longtermism is only valid if we can spread to the stars. I think the jury is still out on whether or not this is actually the case? It has been suggested that existential security may only be possible if we spread out in the universe, but I’m not sure if this is generally accepted?
Another consideration is that one may want the flag or symbol to have relatively direct temporal associations (one way or the other), since longtermism concerns time. It seems to me that Ryan’s suggestion doesn’t have that; at least not very directly—it’s more about us being small relative to the vastness of the universe, which is something spatial rather than temporal.
Greg’s suggestion has stronger and more direct temporal associations, I’d say.
Generally, it’s of course not very straightforward to represent something temporal visually.
I like this. Ryan’s original example, whilst a pretty good suggestion overall, gives the impression of insignificance, whereas this one gives the impression of insignificance mixed with vast potential and hope for something more.
The only reservation I have is that this flag might imply that longtermism is only valid if we can spread to the stars. I think the jury is still out on whether or not this is actually the case? It has been suggested that existential security may only be possible if we spread out in the universe, but I’m not sure if this is generally accepted?
Perhaps I’m being overly nitpicky though.
Another consideration is that one may want the flag or symbol to have relatively direct temporal associations (one way or the other), since longtermism concerns time. It seems to me that Ryan’s suggestion doesn’t have that; at least not very directly—it’s more about us being small relative to the vastness of the universe, which is something spatial rather than temporal.
Greg’s suggestion has stronger and more direct temporal associations, I’d say.
Generally, it’s of course not very straightforward to represent something temporal visually.