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Global Catastrophic Risks
Edited by Nick Bostrom and Milan M. Cirkovic
576 pages
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Tables and figures
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234x156mm
978-0-19-960650-4
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Paperback
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29 September 2011
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- Chapters from leading experts and thinkers covering some of the biggest risks facing the world today
- Covers astronomical and Earth-based natural catastrophes, nuclear war, terrorism, biological weapons, totalitarianism, advanced nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, and social collapse
- Highly topical area with frequent media coverage
- Addresses the key methodological, ethical, and policy issues arising from the study of Global Catastrophic Risks
- Includes a comprehensive introductory section
A global catastrophic risk is one with the potential to wreak death and destruction on a global scale. In human history, wars and plagues have done so on more than one occasion, and misguided ideologies and totalitarian regimes have darkened an entire era or a region. Advances in technology are adding dangers of a new kind. It could happen again.
In Global Catastrophic Risks 25 leading experts look at the gravest risks facing humanity in the 21st century, including asteroid impacts, gamma-ray bursts, Earth-based natural catastrophes, nuclear war, terrorism, global warming, biological weapons, totalitarianism, advanced nanotechnology, general artificial intelligence, and social collapse. The book also addresses over-arching issues -
policy responses and methods for predicting and managing catastrophes.
This is invaluable reading for anyone interested in the big issues of our time; for students focusing on science, society, technology, and public policy; and for academics, policy-makers, and professionals working in these acutely important fields.Readership: A must-read book for anyone interested in the big issues of our time; for students focusing on science, society, technology, and public policy; and for academics and professionals working in these highly topical areas. Readers of popular science.
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Edited by Nick Bostrom, Department of Philosophy, Oxford University, and Milan M. Cirkovic, Astronomical Observatory, Belgrade Nick Bostrom, PhD, is Director of the Future of Humanity Institute, in the James Martin 21st Century School, at Oxford University. He previously taught at Yale University in the Department of Philosophy and in the Yale Institute for Social and Policy Studies. Bostrom has served as an expert consultant for the European Commission in Brussels and for the Central Intelligence Agency in Washington DC. He has advised the British Parliament, the European Parliament, and many other public bodies on issues relating to emerging technologies.
Milan M. Cirkovic, PhD, is a senior research associate of the Astronomical Observatory of Belgrade, (Serbia) and a professor of Cosmology at Department of Physics, University of Novi Sad (Serbia). He received both his PhD in Physics and his MSc in Earth and Space Sciences from the State University of New York at Stony Brook (USA) and his BSc in Theoretical Physics was received from the University of Belgrade. Contributors:
Gary Ackerman
Fred C. Adams
Myles R. Allen
Nick Bostrom
Bryan Caplan
Christopher F. Chyba
Joseph Cirincione
Milan M. Cirkovic
Arnon Dar
David Frame
Yacov Y. Haimes
Robin Hanson
James J. Hughes
Edwin Dennis Kilbourne
William Napier
Ali Nouri
Chris Phoenix
Richard A. Posner
William Potter
Michael R. Rampino
Sir Martin J. Rees
Peter Taylor
Mike Treder
Frank Wilczek
Christopher Wills
Eliezer Yudkowsky
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Review(s) from previous edition
"This volume is remarkably entertaining and readable...It's risk assessment meets science fiction. - Natural Hazards Observer
"The book works well, providing a mine of peer-reviewed information on the great risks that threaten our own and future generations." - Nature
"We should welcome this fascinating and provocative book." - Martin J Rees (from foreword)
"[Provides] a mine of peer-reviewed information on the great risks that threaten our own and future generations." - Nature
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Acknowledgements
Sir Martin J. Rees: Foreword
Nick Bostrom and Milan M. Cirkovic: Introduction
I Background
Fred C. Adams: Long-term astrophysical processes
Christopher Wills: Evolution theory and the future of humanity
James J. Hughes: Millenial tendencies in responses to apocalyptic threats
Eliezer Yudkowsky: Cognitive biases potentially affecting judgement of global risks
Milan M. Cirkovic: Observation selection effects and global catastrophic risks
Yacov Y. Haimes: Systems-based risk analysis
Peter Taylor: Catastrophes and insurance
Richard A. Posner: Public policy towards catastrophe
II Risks from Nature
Michael R. Rampino: Super-volcanism and other geophysical processes of catastrophic import
William Napier: Hazards from comets and asteroids
Arnon Dar: Influence of Supernovae, gamma-ray bursts, solar flares, and cosmic rays on the terrestrial environment
III Risks from Unintended Consequences
David Frame and Myles R. Allen: Climate change and global risk
Edwin Dennis Kilbourne: Plagues and pandemics: past, present, and future
Eliezer Yudkowsky: Artificial Intelligence as a positive and negative factor in global risk
Frank Wilczek: Big troubles, imagined and real
IV Risks from hostile acts
Robin Hanson: Catastrophe, social collapse, and and human extinction
Joseph Cirincione: The continuing threat of nuclear war
Gary Ackerman and William C. Potter: Catastrophic nuclear terrorism: a preventable peril
Ali Nouri and Christopher F. Chyba: Biotechnology and biosecurity
Chris Phoenix and Mike Treder: Nanotechnology as global catastrophic risk
Bryan Caplan: The totalitarian threat
Author's biographies
Index
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The specification in this catalogue, including without limitation price, format, extent, number of illustrations, and month of publication, was as accurate as possible at the time the catalogue was compiled. Occasionally, due to the nature of some contractual restrictions, we are unable to ship a specific product to a particular territory. Jacket images are provisional and liable to change before publication.
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