An image and description of Bartolomeu de Gusmão's airship, Passarola, demonstrated to a public audience in August of 1709.

My academic journey has provided me with a unique perspective on the intersection of history, science, and the future. My research focuses on conceptualizations of progress and innovation in early modern Europe. I'm currently researching ideas about extraterrestrial life and space travel in the 17th century. I also have degrees in philosophy and business, and I'm a dedicated evolutionary biology neophyte.

In parallel with my academic background, I am passionate about effective altruism, longtermism, existential risk, and forecasting. Historians are a minority in the EA ecosystem. However, my appreciation for the long history of humankind ignites a profound interest in shaping the future and preserving humanity for generations to come. Delving into the annals of the past reveals the remarkable progress and transformative moments that have shaped our species.

My approach to EA and X-risk has been informed by history in six ways:

1. Understanding systemic causes of poverty, inequality, disease, conflict, environmental degradation, and other challenges.

2. Identifying successful interventions and the efficacy of mitigation strategies.

3. Promoting resilience and adaptive strategies.

4. Informing policy and decision-making.

5. Ethical reflection and moral progress, especially relating to justice, equality, and well-fare.

6. Fostering longtermist thinking, such as understanding the interconnectedness of events and longterm implications of present decisions on future humans.
 

I believe the past illuminates possible challenges and opportunities, especially when considering immutable aspects of human desires. Past events -- from the Toba Eruption, to the Black Death, to the Cuban Missile Crisis -- provide case studies that can be used to anticipate an unknown future.

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