Description
Book SynopsisCatastrophic risks are much greater than is commonly appreciated. Collision with an asteroid, runaway global warming, voraciously replicating nanomachines, a pandemic of gene-spliced smallpox launched by bioterrorists, and a world-ending accident in a high-energy particle accelerator, are among the possible extinction events that are sufficiently likely to warrant careful study. How should we respond to events that, for a variety of psychological and cultural reasons, we find it hard to wrap our minds around? Posner argues that realism about science and scientists, innovative applications of cost-benefit analysis, a scientifically literate legal profession, unprecedented international cooperation, and a pragmatic attitude toward civil liberties are among the keys to coping effectively with the catastrophic risks.
Trade Review...fascinating, disturbing. * Short Book Reviews, Publication of the International Statistical Institute *
Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION ; 1. WHAT ARE THE CATASTROHPIC RISKS, AND HOW CATASTROPHIC ARE THEY? ; 2. WHY SO LITTLE IS BEING DONE ABOUT THE CATASTROPHIC RISKS ; 3. HOW TO EVALUATE THE CATASTROPHIC RISKS AND THE POSSIBLE RESPONSES TO THEM ; 4. HOW TO REDUCE THE CATASTROPHIC RISKS ; CONCLUSION
