Futurology How We Discovered Our Own Extinction (with Thomas Moynihan and Benjamin Bratton)
Jul 29, 2025
Thomas Moynihan, a historian focused on human extinction, teams up with Benjamin Bratton, a philosopher of technology. Together, they explore how humanity's understanding of time and extinction has evolved, shifting from religious prophecies to scientific realities. They discuss the cosmic significance of extinction, the ethical implications of AI and planetary intelligence, and how these ideas change our obligations to future generations. Their conversation dives deep into the interconnectedness of life and technology, urging listeners to rethink existence and responsibility.
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Childhood Spark from Cambrian Life
- Thomas Moynihan's childhood inspired his fascination with ancient life through his father's reading of Stephen Jay Gould's book.
- The alien forms of Cambrian era animals captured his early imagination about life's history.
Extinction as a Modern Concept
- The idea of extinction is a modern concept distinct from traditional apocalyptic views.
- Extinction means the end of moral order, as the universe continues without humans or moral agents.
Human Exceptionalism Reconsidered
- Human minds elevate us to cosmic significance as exceptional agents of choice and agency.
- This challenges medieval views that placed humans low in a moral hierarchy of creation.
