In the run up to HowThelightGetsIn festival – the world’s largest philosophy and music festival - in London’s Hampstead Heath September 23 – 24, we asked some of our regular hosts and speakers what they thought the most important debates were for this century. Anders Sandberg, Joanna Kavena, Hilary Lawson, Philip Collins, Bjørn Ekeberg, Barry Smith, Peter Tachel and Myriam François respond.

The most important debate to have in the 21st century is how to coordinate about rapid solutions to emergent global problems. We saw it partially happen during Covid-19, but other crises are plausible - systemic risks, runaway AI and biotech, new forms of crime, etc. We need mechanisms that can quickly mobilize the right parts of humanity, whether states, companies, NGOs or individuals, to make use of the tools we have to fix things, and reward them for doing so.