Summary of Toby Ord's The Precipice

By IRB Media

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book.

#1 The future of humanity is in our hands. We must act now to protect ourselves and our long-term potential, or risk losing it forever.

#2 We have the ability to end the period of escalating risk and safeguard our future. It all depends on how quickly we can come to understand and accept the fresh responsibilities that come with our unprecedented power.

#3 The Precipice is a book about existential risks, risks that threaten the destruction of humanity’s long-term potential. It covers a lot of ground, from the physics behind them to the moral philosophy behind them.

#4 I have come to realize that the risks to humanity’s future are just as real and just as urgent, yet they are even more neglected. I have become focused on addressing these risks, and helping groups such as the UK Prime Minister’s Office address them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: IRB Media
• Release date: Apr 7, 2022
• ISBN: 9781669382171

IRB Media

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Insights on Toby Ord's The Precipice

Contents

Insights from Chapter 1

Insights from Chapter 2

Insights from Chapter 3

Insights from Chapter 1

#1

The future of humanity is in our hands. We must act now to protect ourselves and our long-term potential, or risk losing it forever.

#2

We have the ability to end the period of escalating risk and safeguard our future. It all depends on how quickly we can come to understand and accept the fresh responsibilities that come with our unprecedented power.

#3

The Precipice is a book about existential risks, risks that threaten the destruction of humanity’s long-term potential. It covers a lot of ground, from the physics behind them to the moral philosophy behind them.

#4

I have come to realize that the risks to humanity’s future are just as real and just as urgent, yet they are even more neglected. I have become focused on addressing these risks, and helping groups such as the UK Prime Minister’s Office address them.

#5

The Precipice examines the central questions from a different angle each chapter. It begins with a bird’s-eye view of our unique moment in history, then delves into the science of the risks facing humanity, and concludes with a vision of our future.

#6

We live in a time that is uniquely important to humanity’s future. We must take a step back and view the human story as a whole. We shall see how the major transitions in human history have enhanced our power, and how this has led to extraordinary progress.

#7

Humanity’s story has been told through the accomplishments of our species, Homo sapiens, which arose in Africa 200,000 years ago. But what made us exceptional was not our physical abilities, but our intelligence, creativity, and language.

#8

The first great transition was the Agricultural Revolution, which took place around 10,000 years ago in the Middle East. It allowed humans to harness the power of evolution and create new domesticated varieties with larger seeds and better yields.

#9

The third great transition is the Industrial Revolution, which was made possible by the discovery of fossil fuels. It allowed us to harness