New Books in Science, Technology, and Society Santiago Zabala, "Signs from the Future: Philosophy of Warnings" (Columbia UP, 2025)
Sep 4, 2025
Santiago Zabala, an ICREA Research Professor of Philosophy at Pompeu Fabra University, discusses his new book, offering a fresh perspective on warnings as reflections of present crises. He tackles contemporary issues like climate change and AI's role in warfare, emphasizing that warnings prompt a shift in mindset rather than mere predictions. Zabala critiques communication strategies around activism, particularly highlighting Greta Thunberg’s emotional approach to climate awareness. He also examines the philosophy behind warnings and their significance in confronting political extremism and societal complacency.
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Warnings As Interpretive Mirrors
- Warnings function like disorienting mirrors that force active interpretation rather than passive observation.
- Santiago Zabala argues warnings invite responsibility and engagement with present crises to shape alternative futures.
Warning Versus Prediction
- A warning differs from a prediction because it presumes an alternative that listeners can enact.
- Zabala claims philosophy itself operates as warning, urging action rather than foretelling inevitable outcomes.
Limits Of Scientific Truth In Warnings
- Heidegger's critique shows science calculates but does not 'think' the limits and assumptions of its methods.
- Zabala says truth from science alone fails to produce the pressure needed to change collective behavior.
