PART 05 [SDF2024] Special Speech - Why This Pivotal Century Needs an Expansion of our Ethical Horizons 2024.11.12 All Videos
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In the 21st century, the leaders of the present generation, and the leaders to come of the next generation, will determine the fate of our species ? including, perhaps, whether there will even be humans in future centuries, and if there are, how hospitable the planet will be, not only to our species, but to all other species on this planet as well. Because of this truly awesome responsibility, we face more demanding ethical choices than any previous generation ? choices about everyday living, such as how we generate our energy, and what we eat. It is as if friends have asked us to look after their house while we are away: will we throw a huge party, not caring if the house gets wrecked, or will we be responsible stewards, taking care to return the house to our friends in a condition as good as, or better than, the one in which we received it? In the real world, the “friends” include not only the next generation, but all future generations, and not only humans, but all sentient beings. That is why our ethics must expand to include all those affected by our choices.