existential risk
The term "existential risk" is often used in discussions about the future of humanity, focusing on threats that could lead to human extinction or severely limit our potential.
🇺🇸 US Voice:
🇬🇧 UK Voice:
Definition
C1Global Threats
(technical, academic)A threat that could lead to the extinction of humanity or significantly hinder its future potential.
Example
- Climate change is considered by some to be an existential risk due to its potential impact on human survival.
- Advanced artificial intelligence is often discussed as a possible existential risk.
C1Philosophical Discussions
(formal)A hypothetical event that could result in the annihilation of human civilization or severely limit its progress.
Example
- Philosophers debate various existential risks, such as nuclear war and global pandemics.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "existential risk":