Émile P. Torres
Philosopher and historian of human extinction
Researcher at Leibniz University Hannover writing on the ethics and history of human extinction. Author of "Human Extinction: A History of the Science and Ethics of Annihilation," co-author with Timnit Gebru of the paper that named the TESCREAL bundle, and co-author of the history tracing existential risk studies through three waves. Now among the sharpest critics of longtermism, having previously worked within that world.
Key arguments & positions
- Criticizes a cluster of philosophies behind parts of the AI industry, which they and Timnit Gebru named TESCREAL (transhumanism, extropianism, singularitarianism, cosmism, rationalism, effective altruism and longtermism).
Accomplishments
- Philosopher and intellectual historian whose research covers eschatology, existential risk and human extinction.
Papers & key writings
Links
In the library
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Recommended next
Hand-picked from the hub based on what Émile P. Torres covers.
Ripples on the Great Sea of Life: A Brief History of Existential Risk Studies
A 39-page history by SJ Beard (University of Cambridge) and Émile P. Torres of how existential risk became an academic field, tracing three successive waves: an explicitly transhumanist and techno-utopian first wave, a second built on longtermism and closely tied to Effective Altruism, and a third formed where the field met disaster studies, environmental science and public policy. Posted to SSRN January 2021, revised March 2021.
Why this: Covers existential risk and longtermism too
Émile P. Torres / xriskology
The academic and popular-writing home page of philosopher Émile P. Torres, covering existential risk, the history of human-extinction thought, and critical work on TESCREAL ideologies in Silicon Valley.
Why this: Covers existential risk and longtermism too
Toby Ord
Site of Oxford philosopher Toby Ord, author of "The Precipice", with free papers and essays on existential risk and how to weigh long-term outcomes.
Why this: Covers existential risk and longtermism too
William MacAskill
Philosopher and senior research fellow at Forethought, working on AGI preparedness and longtermism. Co-founded Giving What We Can, 80,000 Hours, the Centre for Effective Altruism and the Global Priorities Institute; author of Doing Good Better and What We Owe the Future.
Why this: Covers longtermism and philosophy too