Should We Campaign Against Sex Robots?
Chapter in ROBOT SEX: SOCIAL AND ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS, (2017) 47-71
The Wisdom of Nature: An Evolutionary Heuristic for Human Enhancement
Chapter in Philosophical Issues in Pharmaceutics, Springer Nature 122 (2017) 189-219
That is not dead which can eternal lie: The aestivation hypothesis for resolving Fermi's paradox
JBIS - Journal of the British Interplanetary Society British Interplanetary Society 69:11 (2016) 406-415
Abstract:
If a civilization wants to maximize computation it appears rational to aestivate until the far future in order to exploit the low temperature environment: This can produce a 10∗° multiplier of achievable computation. We hence suggest the "aestivation hypothesis": The reason we are not observing manifestations of alien civilizations is that they are currently (mostly) inactive, patiently waiting for future cosmic eras. This paper analyses the assumptions going into the hypothesis and how physical law and observational evidence constrain the motivations of aliens compatible with the hypothesis.Humanity's extinction
Economist (United Kingdom) Economist Newspaper Limited 412:9007 (2016)
Abstract:
You are right to argue that colonising Mars would not hedge against some sorts of extinction risk ("Colonising Mars", October 1st). But it is wrong to dismiss the possibility of human extinction as “claptrap”. Some novel or unknown threats, like those from engineered pathogens, might indeed endanger humanity's future.The Unilateralist’s Curse and the Case for a Principle of Conformity
Social Epistemology Taylor & Francis 30:4 (2016) 350-371