The intellectual discovery of human extinction: existential risk and the entrance of the future perfect into science

Abstract

The idea of human extinction, or existential risk, has become a prominent topic of scientific study in recent times. This concept, however, has a rich historical lineage rooted in the Enlightenment. The emergence of the geosciences, demography, and the mathematical understanding of risk in the 18th century laid the groundwork for contemplating our potential extinction. However, recognizing existential risk required more than just scientific breakthroughs; it demanded a shift in our understanding of values and reason. We had to acknowledge that the cosmos does not inherently possess justice or value, and that our values depend on our stewardship of them. This realization, stemming from Enlightenment thinkers like Immanuel Kant, fueled the modern impulse to predict, mitigate, and strategize against existential threats. Therefore, the field of existential risk studies is not simply a product of contemporary anxieties, but rather a continuation of the Enlightenment project and its enduring pursuit of self-responsibility.