Elon Musk is known for setting his sights far beyond short-term goals. Whether it's space exploration, sustainable energy, or artificial intelligence, his ambitions are anchored in the future. At the heart of this mindset is longtermism—the belief that our decisions today should benefit not just ourselves but generations that follow. Musk once described William MacAskill’s book What We Owe the Future as a "close match for my philosophy," confirming how closely this principle guides his thinking.
Longtermism isn't a slogan for Musk. It's a decision-making framework that shows up across his ventures. He views human consciousness as something worth preserving for millennia, not just decades. And that belief shapes everything from his Mars colonization plans to his views on AI development and education reform.
This article explores why Musk holds this view, how it's reflected in his work, and what lessons educators, students, and policymakers can draw from it.
Table of Content
- What Is Longtermism?
- Why Musk Says Longtermism Matches His Philosophy
- Moral Responsibility Toward Future Generations
- Why Existential Risk Drives Musk’s Thinking
- SpaceX: Making Life Multiplanetary
- Tesla: Creating a Future with Clean Energy
- OpenAI, xAI, and Responsible AI Development
- Concerns About Population Decline
- Education: Preparing Minds for the Future
- Expert Support for Longtermist Thinking
- Why Longtermism Can Help Society Now
- Challenges and Criticisms
- How Longtermism Applies to Education and Policy
- Musk's Influence on Public Perception
- Conclusion
- FAQs
What Is Longtermism?
Longtermism is a philosophy that prioritizes the long-term future of humanity. It suggests that people living in future generations matter just as much as those alive today. Because the future could include trillions of individuals, the logic follows that we should act now to protect and improve their potential lives.
This concept isn't just theoretical. It's gaining attention in academic, political, and tech circles. Longtermism encourages decision-makers to weigh how current actions might influence human well-being centuries or even millennia from now. Key areas of concern include climate change, artificial intelligence, biosecurity, and planetary threats—issues Musk often discusses.
Why Musk Says Longtermism Matches His Philosophy
Musk's endorsement of longtermism didn’t come out of nowhere. He has repeatedly emphasized the need to think on large timescales. In interviews and public statements, he talks about ensuring the continuity of human consciousness and making life multiplanetary.
For Musk, the far future isn't an abstract idea. It’s personal. He often speaks about Earth as fragile and civilization as temporary unless we actively plan for its continuation. That worldview fits hand in glove with longtermism.
Moral Responsibility Toward Future Generations
One of the strongest arguments Musk makes is that we owe a debt to those who come after us. He believes it's not enough to fix present-day problems. We also need to mitigate the risk of extinction and invest in technologies that enable long-term survival.
This includes preparing for scenarios we might not fully understand yet. Musk argues that if we wait until we feel an existential risk is certain, it might already be too late to act.
Why Existential Risk Drives Musk’s Thinking
Philosopher Toby Ord estimates that there is a one-in-six chance of an existential catastrophe occurring within this century. Musk takes such numbers seriously. He frequently discusses existential risk in the context of AI, pandemics, and environmental collapse.
His companies don't just chase profit. They're structured to address what he sees as civilization-level threats. Whether or not you agree with his views, the consistency in his approach shows that long-term thinking isn't a marketing tool—it's central to his actions.
SpaceX: Making Life Multiplanetary
Musk has said the goal of SpaceX is to make life multiplanetary. Why? Because if humanity lives only on Earth, it remains vulnerable to a single point of failure. Colonizing Mars would be like creating a backup drive for civilization.
SpaceX is building reusable rockets and plans to send humans to Mars within the next few decades. These projects are expensive and slow to turn a profit. But for Musk, the payoff is the long-term survival of our species.
Tesla: Creating a Future with Clean Energy
Tesla aims to shift the world toward sustainable energy. While electric vehicles and solar panels help today, Musk’s bigger goal is to reduce carbon emissions that could disrupt life for generations.
He often points out that the planet will remain our main home for a long time. If we don’t take care of it now, future generations will inherit the consequences.
OpenAI, xAI, and Responsible AI Development
Artificial intelligence is one of Musk’s biggest concerns. He’s warned that superintelligent AI could eventually surpass human control. That concern led him to help create OpenAI and later xAI, both of which are aimed at making AI safer and more understandable.
While some dismiss these concerns as science fiction, others share Musk’s view. Geoffrey Hinton, one of the pioneers of deep learning, stepped down from Google to speak more freely about the risks AI could pose. Musk supports regulating AI to prevent outcomes that would be impossible to reverse.
Concerns About Population Decline
Another long-term concern Musk raises is the decline in birth rates. He argues that if birth rates fall too low, society could face slow but serious consequences, including shrinking economies and a shortage of people to solve future problems.
He often links this to longtermism, suggesting that we shouldn’t only plan for the continuation of civilization, but also its vibrancy. In his view, having more children is part of that strategy.
Education: Preparing Minds for the Future
Frustrated by traditional schooling, Musk created a private experimental school called Ad Astra. Later renamed Astra Nova, the school focuses on problem-solving, ethics, science, and creativity.
He believes education should reflect future challenges, not just past traditions. The aim is to equip young people with the mindset and skills needed to address long-term risks and opportunities.
In 2025, Musk donated $100 million to expand this initiative. He envisions a system where education prepares learners to think beyond their own lifetimes.
Expert Support for Longtermist Thinking
Musk’s views may seem extreme to some, but he’s not alone. Experts across various fields echo similar concerns.
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Philosopher William MacAskill promotes longtermism as a moral obligation.
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Physicist Stephen Hawking warned that without space colonization, humanity’s future would remain at risk.
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AI researcher Stuart Russell has urged developers to align AI systems with human values before deployment.
These voices contribute to a growing consensus that long-term thinking isn’t optional—it’s necessary.
Why Longtermism Can Help Society Now
Longtermism isn’t just about the distant future. It can guide better decisions today. For example, by thinking long-term:
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Companies may invest more in sustainability.
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Governments might fund research into disaster prevention.
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Schools could prepare students to solve global challenges.
Longterm thinking helps shift attention away from short-term profits and political cycles toward outcomes that matter for generations.
Challenges and Criticisms
Not everyone supports longtermism or Musk’s interpretation of it. Some argue that it overlooks pressing current issues, such as poverty and healthcare. Others say it gives wealthy individuals too much influence over humanity's direction.
There are also concerns about feasibility. Colonizing Mars sounds inspiring but faces huge technical, ethical, and environmental hurdles. And with AI, some believe the dangers are overstated or speculative.
Despite these critiques, Musk responds by emphasizing that short-term and long-term goals don't need to conflict. Tesla, for instance, helps reduce pollution now while promoting long-term climate health.
How Longtermism Applies to Education and Policy
Educators can adopt longtermism by teaching future literacy—helping students consider how today’s choices impact tomorrow. Subjects like climate science, ethics, and civic responsibility become even more relevant when framed with a long-term lens.
Policymakers can:
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Support AI oversight
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Fund renewable energy
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Invest in health systems and basic research
By asking, "How will this policy affect people 50 or 100 years from now?", they shift the conversation from reaction to prevention.
Musk's Influence on Public Perception
Whether people agree with Musk or not, his influence shapes public discussion. His advocacy of longtermism brings abstract ethical ideas into mainstream conversation.
More people now ask questions like:
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What kind of future are we building?
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Who gets to decide what the future looks like?
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How should we balance current needs with future risks?
These are complex questions, but necessary ones. Musk’s role is not to answer them alone, but to make sure they're not ignored.
Conclusion
Elon Musk's belief in longtermism is based on a simple idea: if we care about humanity, we should think beyond our own lifetime. Whether it’s building rockets, designing clean cars, or warning about AI, he consistently chooses paths that consider future outcomes.
Longtermism doesn’t require everyone to start space companies. It does suggest that we each have a role to play in shaping the future, as students, teachers, parents, voters, and leaders.
If more people begin thinking about tomorrow’s consequences today, the result may be a world better prepared for whatever lies ahead.
FAQs
Q1: What does Elon Musk mean by longtermism?
He refers to the belief that we should care deeply about future generations and make decisions that benefit them.
Q2: How is SpaceX related to longtermism?
SpaceX aims to make life multiplanetary, reducing the risk of human extinction by expanding beyond Earth.
Q3: Why is Musk concerned about AI?
He worries that without proper oversight, AI could develop in ways that harm humanity in the long term.
Q4: How can schools teach longtermism?
By incorporating future thinking into subjects such as ethics, science, and civics, and encouraging students to consider long-term consequences.
Q5: Is longtermism only for billionaires?
No. Everyone can think long-term in their decisions, from daily habits to voting or teaching, regardless of income or status.
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70 Must-Read Books Recommended by Elon Musk
Philosophy