Making Sense with Sam Harris

#208 — Existential Risk

Jun 23, 2020

Toby Ord, a philosopher at Oxford University focused on existential risks and effective altruism, dives deep into the future of humanity. He explores the moral biases shaping our views on distance and time, highlighting the psychology behind effective altruism. The conversation navigates the complexities of distinguishing natural threats from human-made ones, addressing dangers like nuclear war and pandemics. Ord reflects on the morality of altruism, balancing emotion with logic, and the essential responsibility we hold for future generations.

01:04:50

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Episode guests

Toby Ord

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Episode notes

Intro

3min

Exploring Existential Risks

8min

Historical Perspectives on Pandemics and Existential Risks

2min

Philosophy Meets Philanthropy

20min

The Dilemma of Altruism: Balancing Love and Logic

8min

Facing Existential Risks

21min

The Weight of Existence: Examining Future Risks

4min

Sam Harris speaks with Toby Ord about preserving the long term future of humanity. They discuss moral biases with respect to distance in space and time, the psychology of effective altruism, feeling good vs doing good, possible blindspots in consequentialism, natural vs human-caused risk, asteroid impacts, nuclear war, pandemics, the potentially cosmic significance of human survival, the difference between bad things and the absence of good things, population ethics, Derek Parfit, the asymmetry between happiness and suffering, climate change, and other topics.

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