Future Embarrassments
Because moral progress is real (we improve our morality over time) new generations will inevitably see moral deficiencies in previous generations. To some degree we can guess and anticipate what they will find embarrassing about us today, but it will be impossible to align ourselves fully with their view. The more we are immersed in today’s culture, the harder to see our future. So we just have to get used to the idea that our descendents will find many of the things we do and believe today to be eye-rolling embarrassing. With the caveat that most of these will be wrong, what are some possible future embarrassments?
Eating animal flesh with gusto
Believing gender is only binary
Denying consciousness in machines
Prohibiting euthanasia
Outlawing psychedelics
Hatred against engineering human genetics
Acceptance of passports to prevent mobility
Tolerating destitute poverty
Employing capital punishment
Belief that killing in war is not murder
Prison is justified punishment
Not choosing your own name
Human clones are diabolical
Assuming photographs are evidence