Three Critiques Of Existential Risk Forerunners

Existential risks, also known as global catastrophic risks, refer to events that could potentially lead to the extinction of human civilization or even the entire human species. Over the years, several organizations and individuals have emerged as forerunners in identifying and addressing these risks. While their efforts should be commended, it is essential to critically examine their approaches and consider potential critiques. This article explores three critiques of existential risk forerunners, shedding light on the areas that need further scrutiny and improvement.

Critique #1: Narrow Focus

One common critique of existential risk forerunners is their tendency to focus on a particular type of risk while overlooking others. For example, some organizations may concentrate solely on the threats posed by artificial intelligence, without giving enough attention to potential natural disasters or pandemics. While AI is undoubtedly an important concern, neglecting other significant risks can lead to an incomplete understanding of the overall existential risk landscape.

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Critique #2: Lack of Diversity

Another critique is the lack of diversity among existential risk forerunners. Most prominent voices in the field tend to come from a narrow subset of academia and technology industries. This lack of diversity can limit the perspectives and approaches used to mitigate existential risks. It is essential to include a wide range of expertise, including sociologists, economists, philosophers, and representatives from various cultural backgrounds, to ensure a more comprehensive and inclusive understanding of these risks.

Calamity Theory: Three Critiques of Existential Risk (Forerunners: Ideas First)

by Joshua Schuster(Kindle Edition)

5 out of 5

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Critique #3: Ethical Implications

The third critique revolves around the ethical implications of the actions taken by existential risk forerunners. While the intention to prevent catastrophic events is commendable, there is a need for a broader discussion on the potential unintended consequences of their approach. For example, certain interventions may have severe implications for individual freedoms, privacy, or the distribution of resources. It is crucial to strike a balance between mitigating existential risks and preserving ethical principles to avoid creating new risks or exacerbating existing social inequalities.

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While existential risk forerunners play a vital role in raising awareness about the potential threats that humanity faces, it is crucial to subject their approaches to critical scrutiny. Focusing on a narrow range of risks, lacking diversity, and overlooking the ethical implications of interventions are legitimate concerns that need to be addressed. By acknowledging and addressing these critiques, the field of existential risk mitigation can become more robust, inclusive, and ethically sound.

Calamity Theory: Three Critiques of Existential Risk (Forerunners: Ideas First)

by Joshua Schuster(Kindle Edition)

5 out of 5

FREE

What are the implications of how we talk about apocalypse?

A new philosophical field has emerged. “Existential risk” studies any real or hypothetical human extinction event in the near or distant future. This movement examines catastrophes ranging from runaway global warming to nuclear warfare to malevolent artificial intelligence, deploying a curious mix of utilitarian ethics, statistical risk analysis, and, controversially, a transhuman advocacy that would aim to supersede almost all extinction scenarios. The proponents of existential risk thinking, led by Oxford philosopher Nick Bostrom, have seen their work gain immense popularity, attracting endorsement from Bill Gates and Elon Musk, millions of dollars, and millions of views. 

Calamity Theory is the first book to examine the rise of this thinking and its failures to acknowledge the ways some communities and lifeways are more at risk than others and what it implies about human extinction.

Forerunners: Ideas First is a thought-in-process series of breakthrough digital publications. Written between fresh ideas and finished books, Forerunners draws on scholarly work initiated in notable blogs, social media, conference plenaries, journal articles, and the synergy of academic exchange. This is gray literature publishing: where intense thinking, change, and speculation take place in scholarship.