Sullivan’s provocative framing of temporal bias as a moral failing effectively strips away the excuses we use to neglect our future selves. It is a sharp reminder that our present comfort is often built on the systematic exploitation of the person we are yet to become.
Deep Dive
Prerequisite Knowledge
- No data available.
Where to go next
- No data available.
Deep Dive
Sullivan: Future BetrayalAdded:
You are right now betraying someone very important to you. You do it every day and you do so without thinking because according to the philosopher Megan Sullivan, you are betraying your future self. Sullivan argues that human beings are systematically and deeply irrational in how we think about time. We treat the present moment as more real, more important, and more morally significant than the future.
We treat our future selves worse than we treat strangers because every time you drink too much or stay up too late, it is tomorrow you who has to pay the bill and tomorrow you is not here. Every time you binge or gorge or treat your body poorly, it is your future self who has to pay the costs. Sullivan argues that we rationalize all this in terms of mindfulness or being present in the now.
But Sullivan thinks it is a cognitive distortion like any other bias like racism or sexism which discounts the interests of another based upon morally irrelevant factors. And in this case, the irrelevant factor is that they exist.
The future version of you has exactly the same moral weight as the present version of you. They'll feel pain just as sharply. They'll feel pleasure and joy and happiness just as much.
For Sullivan, every time you choose short-term comfort over long-term flourishing, you are not being spontaneous. You are not being carefree.
You are looking your future self in the eye and you are saying you matter less than I do. And the worst thing about it is your future self isn't here to argue.
Related Videos
BSA Goldstar - I gave up! And why animals beat humans!
thebingleywheeler
102 views•2026-05-31
The 'Islamic dilemma': Quran tells Christians to judge by the Gospel
canceledkings
1K views•2026-05-29
Seneca - Escape The Crowd, Find Your Inner Peace!
realfreewisdom
114 views•2026-05-29
Scholar Explains: WHAT IS A GNOSTIC?
fightbackpodcast
965 views•2026-05-31
Fulton Sheen: A Mente Tenta se Manter Jovem para não Sofrer com os Impactos do Tempo
SantoCotidiano-port
673 views•2026-05-29
Why Pure HEDONISM Is IRRATIONAL
qnaline
12K views•2026-05-31
When They Ignore You, Do This Instead | Stoicism
ZenithWisdom-e3k
615 views•2026-05-31
The fourth great humiliation. #jimmycarr #crowdwork #hecklers #standup
jimmycarr
576K views•2026-05-28











