TED Talks Daily How civilization could destroy itself -- and 4 ways we could prevent it | Nick Bostrom
Dec 27, 2019
Nick Bostrom, a philosopher renowned for his work on existential risks, discusses the alarming notion of a 'black ball'—a tech breakthrough that could lead to our demise. He dives into the Vulnerable World Hypothesis, emphasizing the precarious balance between innovation and disaster. Bostrom addresses risks from nuclear power and synthetic biology, advocating for global regulation. He also questions the role of mass surveillance in governance, urging proactive strategies to prevent civilizational collapse while harnessing technology for good.
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Vulnerable World Hypothesis
- Humanity continually discovers new technologies (represented as balls drawn from an urn).
- A "black ball" technology could irreversibly destroy civilization.
Nuclear Weapons: A Stroke of Luck?
- Nick Bostrom suggests we've been lucky with nuclear weapons.
- Creating them requires difficult-to-obtain materials, limiting their destructive potential.
Nuclear Weapons and Global Incentives
- Nuclear weapons created a dangerous incentive for great powers.
- Mutual assured destruction, however, contributed to a relatively stable Cold War.