Compare two futures
Who governs, who benefits, and which terms remain open?
Compare any two entries. Their differences are editorial descriptions, not distances on a common scale.
Life and institutions
There is no continuing human society whose quality of life can be optimized in this endpoint. It belongs in the collection because a feared outcome can still be considered plausible.
The last human generations may regard what succeeds them with pride. That favorable view of succession still leaves a disagreement between valuing an inheritance and wanting humans themselves to continue.
Practical authority
A nonhuman successor controls the outcome.
Artificial successors ultimately determine their own world.
Benefits and costs
No human benefit is claimed for this endpoint. Human extinction and the loss of human self-government.
A valued legacy can continue through different kinds of beings. Biological human continuity ends; collective approval need not settle individual consent.
Practical human governing authority
Humans do not retain practical final authority
Linked source premise. The linked endpoint ends human society, so no human government continues.
Humans do not retain practical final authority
Linked source premise. The linked Descendants premise ultimately replaces human society with artificial successors.
Revisable governing mandatesDifferent or incomplete terms
This institution or choice is not instantiated in this scenario
Not instantiated here. No surviving human society instantiates this condition here. Unknown successor institutions are not treated as an explicit rejection of it.
The scenario leaves this condition unspecified
Unresolved. The scenario does not say whether people can effectively replace governing mandates.
A practical right to leaveDifferent or incomplete terms
This institution or choice is not instantiated in this scenario
Not instantiated here. No surviving human society instantiates this condition here. Unknown successor institutions are not treated as an explicit rejection of it.
The scenario leaves this condition unspecified
Unresolved. The scenario does not say whether people have a usable right to leave.
Several self-governing communitiesDifferent or incomplete terms
This institution or choice is not instantiated in this scenario
Not instantiated here. No surviving human society instantiates this condition here. Unknown successor institutions are not treated as an explicit rejection of it.
The scenario leaves this condition unspecified
Unresolved. The scenario does not say whether several communities govern themselves.
A guaranteed material floorDifferent or incomplete terms
This institution or choice is not instantiated in this scenario
Not instantiated here. No surviving human society instantiates this condition here. Unknown successor institutions are not treated as an explicit rejection of it.
The scenario leaves this condition unspecified
Unresolved. The scenario does not say whether everyone receives a guaranteed material floor.
Private ownership of productive resourcesDifferent or incomplete terms
This institution or choice is not instantiated in this scenario
Not instantiated here. No surviving human society instantiates this condition here. Unknown successor institutions are not treated as an explicit rejection of it.
The scenario leaves this condition unspecified
Unresolved. The scenario does not say whether private ownership organizes productive resources.
Continuing biological humanity
Biological humanity does not continue
Linked source premise. Human extinction is explicit in the linked endpoint.
Biological humanity does not continue
Linked source premise. The linked premise describes replacement of biological humanity, regarded as a worthy inheritance rather than conquest.
Others’ choice to transform themselvesDifferent or incomplete terms
This institution or choice is not instantiated in this scenario
Not instantiated here. No surviving human society instantiates this condition here. Unknown successor institutions are not treated as an explicit rejection of it.
The scenario leaves this condition unspecified
Unresolved. The scenario does not say whether feasible substantial transformation is legally permitted.
Standing for artificial personsDifferent or incomplete terms
This institution or choice is not instantiated in this scenario
Not instantiated here. No surviving human society instantiates this condition here. Unknown successor institutions are not treated as an explicit rejection of it.
The scenario leaves this condition unspecified
Unresolved. The scenario does not say whether artificial persons have institutional standing.
Enforced limits on selected capabilitiesDifferent or incomplete terms
This institution or choice is not instantiated in this scenario
Not instantiated here. No surviving human society instantiates this condition here. Unknown successor institutions are not treated as an explicit rejection of it.
The scenario leaves this condition unspecified
Unresolved. The scenario does not say whether institutions enforce a ceiling on selected capabilities.
Visible exercise of governing powerDifferent or incomplete terms
This institution or choice is not instantiated in this scenario
Not instantiated here. No surviving human society instantiates this condition here. Unknown successor institutions are not treated as an explicit rejection of it.
The scenario leaves this condition unspecified
Unresolved. The scenario does not say whether people know who exercises governing power.
Practical independence from a technical providerDifferent or incomplete terms
This institution or choice is not instantiated in this scenario
Not instantiated here. No surviving human society instantiates this condition here. Unknown successor institutions are not treated as an explicit rejection of it.
The scenario leaves this condition unspecified
Unresolved. The scenario does not say whether communities can operate without an indispensable technical provider.
Open questions
The successor’s institutions and values; the route to this outcome.
Dissent, individual survival options and successor institutions.
These are authored descriptors. An unresolved feature is not evidence of a guarantee, a conflict or equivalence. Consult Conquerors sources or Descendants sources.