The phrase "What We Owe the Future" refers primarily to a 2022 book by philosopher William MacAskill, which argues for the ethical importance of longtermism-the idea that positively influencing the long-term future should be a central moral priority today

. MacAskill makes the case that future people matter morally as much as those alive now, that the future could be vast with potentially billions of lives yet to come, and that our current actions can dramatically affect whether that future is good or bad

. The book outlines how humanity stands at a critical juncture where decisions made today could shape civilization for millions of years. MacAskill emphasizes two main ways to improve the future: preventing permanent catastrophes to ensure civilization's survival and changing civilization's trajectory to make it better while it lasts

. He warns about risks like climate change, pandemics, nuclear weapons, and artificial intelligence, and stresses the importance of long-term thinking, moral progress, and avoiding "value lock-in," where a single set of values could dominate indefinitely due to technological advances

. Overall, "What We Owe the Future" calls for a moral revolution in how we consider future generations, urging individuals, policymakers, and society to act with the distant future in mind, as the stakes involve potentially trillions of lives and the very survival and flourishing of humanity

. The book is seen as both a guide and an optimistic yet realistic appeal to take responsibility for shaping a just and flourishing future