http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=13231157274

Toronto Transhumanist Association Meetup - "The threat of human extinction: An open discussion about managing apocalyptic technologies."

Date and Time: Saturday, April 12, 2008 at 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM Local Time (9:00 PM - 11:00 PM UTC)

Location: Centre for Inquiry Ontario - 216 Beverley St., Toronto, ON M5T, Canada | Google Maps

Description:

• Toronto Transhumanist Association
• Facebook Group

Humanity faces a monumental challenge in the 21st century: it must avoid its own extinction. Given the rate and nature of technological development, the list of apocalyptic technologies to come into our possession is poised to start growing. These threats include:

• Misused molecular nanotechnology
• Deliberately engineered viruses
• Malign artificial superintelligence
• Particle accelerator accident
• And many others....

As our technologies become more powerful, so too does the potential for a deliberate or accidental misuse of technology. This problem is compounded by the realization that advanced technologies are becoming increasingly accessible, leading to the growing problem of asymmetric threats and the catastrophic lone individual.

The Toronto Transhumanist Association is hosting an open round-table discussion called "The threat of human extinction: An open discussion about managing apocalyptic technologies." During this discussion, participants can address these challenges and speculate about how humanity should go about managing these technologies to reduce risk.