Spreading Life Across The Universe: Best Or Worst Idea Ever? | Anders Sandberg | EAGxCambridge 2023

The idea that humanity could spread life to an otherwise lifeless universe is about as old as the idea of spaceflight, and often framed as a moral imperative. However, not everybody is convinced that it is good: spreading life could also vastly increase the amount of suffering in the world. Given that accidental or deliberate spread of life is looking increasingly plausible as humanity's space activities ramp up, what kind of policies would make sense in the short and long-term? This talk explores issues of suffering risks, grand futures, unilateralist curse situations, and space policy.