Astronomical Waste

From the SL4 Lexicon:

Astronomical Waste:

Refers to the opportunity cost of postponing space colonization and other forms of technological development which could be used to create "value-structures", such as more people living happy lives and experiencing new experiences (the cost, when you run the numbers, is huge). First elucidated by Dr. Nick Bostrom in his paper "Astronomical Waste: the Opportunity Cost of Delayed Technological Development", located here: http://www.nickbostrom.com/astronomical/waste.html.