Existential Risk: A Conversation with Toby Ord (Episode #208)

In this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Toby Ord about preserving the long term future of humanity.

They discuss:
-moral biases with respect to distance in space and time
-the psychology of effective altruism
-feeling good vs doing good
-possible blindspots in consequentialism
-natural vs. human-caused risk
-asteroid impacts
-nuclear war
-pandemics
-the potentially cosmic significance of human survival
-the difference between bad things and the absence of good things
-population ethics
-Derek Parfit
-the asymmetry between happiness and suffering
-climate change
-and other topics

Toby Ord is a philosopher at Oxford University, working on the big picture questions facing humanity. He is focused on the ethics of global poverty. He is one of the young co-founders of the Effective Altruism movement in which thousands of people are using reason and evidence to help the lives of others. He created the online society, Giving What We Can, for people to join this mission, and together its members have pledged over $1.5 billion to the most effective charities.

His current research is on the risks that threaten human extinction or the permanent collapse of civilization, otherwise known as existential risk. Toby has advised the World Health Organization, the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, the US National Intelligence Council, and the UK Prime Minister’s Office.

His new book The Precipice: Existential Risk and the Future of Humanity explores the cutting-edge science behind the risks we face. It puts them in the context of the greater story of humanity: showing how ending these risks is among the most pressing moral issues of our time. And it points the way forward, to the actions and strategies that can safeguard humanity.

Released: June 23, 2020

Twitter: @tobyordoxford

[BrunoLuke]

Been watching, listening, and paying attention to all of predictions and forecasts since early Covid. He hasn't disappointed yet 👌

[Teddy_______]

Sam offering free membership to people that can’t afford it has to be the coolest move in podcasting history. I would be worried about people taking advantage, but given your audience I think you’re good.

[BenjaminBurnhamMusic]

I started listening to this guy a week ago basically out of curiosity, because he had been featured in talks that I watched specifically for Jordan Peterson, who at this time, due to his health, is releasing very little new content. And very quickly I realized that Harris, like Peterson, is an intellectual whose commitment to honesty is something that I, like many other people, are starving for.

[kevinlkeough]

Sam, your last podcast was excellent in a thousand ways. It's pretty rare these days for people to be as honest and transparent as you were. Don't bite on the baiting to apologize for being sane.

[kofib.mayhew]

"The worst things that can happen are not the things we find most appalling and best things we can do are not the things we find most rewarding" felt that!

[allmyfriends]

Sam knows not one person with a normal name. Today we will be talking to Tarbosh O Flarking. He pets butterflies and enjoys oatmeal....

[baraka]

Sam, please create a time stamp of your topics so we can skip to the areas that interest us the most. Thank you.

[Pengalen]

When you have so many people who are being deprived of a stake in the future, via lack of financial and interpersonal prospects (noting the low marriage and birth rates as well as 40 year stagnant wages), how do you convince them to care about existential issues?

[MicahBuzanANIMATION]

This discussion was surprisingly comforting in our times of chaos.

[hans]

Sam has been perfectly situating himself to speak the truth on the cultural and societal landmines head-on for years now. He doesn't rely on advertising and has created his own platform - that way he can say what he wants without fear of retribution. We are living in some sort-of post-modern McCarthyism, and I'm glad Sam speaks his mind about issues. His voice adds clarity to the complicated problems society faces and unfortunately there aren't many people able to do that these days.

[vegas]

Sam Harris is my conduit to intellectuals around the world. It's an amazing time to be alive and have these beautiful minds on demand at the click of a mouse. "Keep doing what you do, Sam."

[danerely]

Sam Harris is brilliant, can literally talk about any subject from what I've seen

[Alex-ejwm]

Sit back, relax and listen to the soultry sounds of Sam Harris

[TaiwanLife]

We need more people like Sam. I am really curious to know his thoughts about how much money is enough for someone and is money really make people happy

[RadicalNuance]

Sam’s intro is better than most podcasts

[ΝίκοςΓιαννόπουλος-λθ]

Really motivating towards being alive, moral and productive

[monaarora]

Before the pandemic covid-19 started to affect people, they were busy talking about politics about society, about communalism, and many other issues were addressed, but not the biological body that each one of us possesses.

But now we have started to talk about our immune system, and the need to strengthen our body. Now we have started to understand herbs and the self healing quality of our body.
Now we have started to to understand the divine intervention and blessings that work for our body, and mind but we do not let it take place because our own psychological, mental, spiritual and emotional toxicity.

So among the several pros that were brought into our lives along with the covid-19 situation, one is that we have started to take care of our body and putting in efforts to know how it functions.

Thankfully we have drifted from many undesirable topics and moved towards our own emotional, psychological, and biological betterment.
Mansi Arora ( mona) from india

[hateeternalmaver]

Finally subbed to Sam's Podcast (after like ten years of following...).
Just wanted say thanks for the business model... I can't afford but certainly once I can Sam's getting his part. ;)

[RadicalNuance]

I’d love to connect with all people that find this chat intellectually satisfying...

[foreverzeta]

I like that" doing good as oppose to feeling good.". My motto.