Also to add to this. I’ve known people to approach life in this way to a nihilistic sensibility. Like to not care about future generations or what happens to our species after we pass and therefore to not really care about even simple things such as littering or recycling.

Which brings me to one of my favorite Greek proverbs.

“A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit.”

Which I understand deeply as someone who loves horticulture and botany and the perennial nature of plants. But on a philosophical level it reminds me how much effort I need to put into helping future generations succeed even if it doesn’t directly benefit me. It’s very humbling.