Here be dragons
Subtitle: science, technology and the future of humanity
By: Olle Häggström
Edition: First edition.
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 2016
Language: eng
Number of pages: 278
ISBN-13: 9780198723547
Subjects: Social aspects; Technological innovations; Technology and civilization
Other titles: Science, technology and the future of humanity
Description: The 21st century will most likely see even more revolutionary changes than the 20th, due to advances in science, technology and medicine. Particular areas where extraordinary and perhaps disruptive advances can be expected include biotechnology, nanotechnology, and machine intelligence. We may also expect various ways to enhance human cognitive and other abilities using, e.g., pharmaceuticals, genetic engineering or machine-brain interfaces - perhaps to the extent of changing human nature beyond what we currently think of as human. The potential benefits of all these technologies are enormous, but so are the risks, including the possibility of human extinction.--
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 251-273) and index.
Table of contents: title: Science for good and science for bad; title: Our planet and its biosphere; title: Engineering better humans?; title: Computer revolution; title: Going nano; title: What is science?; title: The fallacious Doomsday Argument; title: Doomsday nevertheless?; title: Space colonization and the Fermi Paradox; title: What do we want and what should we do?