Human Extinction - A History of the Science and Ethics of Annihilation

This volume traces the origins and evolution of the idea of human extinction, from the ancient Presocratics through contemporary work on "existential risks."

List of contents

1. An Apocalypse Without Kingdom Part 1: Existential Moods 2. Beginnings of "The End" 3. 'Till Entropy Death Do Us Part 4. The Invention of Omnicide 5. Nature Wants to Kill Us 6. The Perfection of Evil Part 2: Existential Ethics 7. What Is Human Extinction? 8. Early Ruminations 9. Ethical Innovations of the Postwar Era 10. Astronomical Value and the Harm of Existence 11. Recent Developments 12. Looking Forward to the Future

About the author

Émile P. Torres is a philosopher whose research focuses on existential threats to civilization and humanity. They have published widely in the popular press and scholarly journals, with articles appearing in the Washington Post, Aeon, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Metaphilosophy, Inquiry, Erkenntnis, and Futures.

Product details

• Authors: Emile P. Torres, Émile P. Torres
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 27.06.2025
• EAN: 9781032159089
• ISBN: 978-1-0-3215908-9
• No. of pages: 530
• Series: Routledge Studies in the History of Science, Technology and Medicine
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > General, dictionaries; Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; Social Theory, HISTORY / General, HISTORY / Civilization, PHILOSOPHY / Ethics & Moral Philosophy, HISTORY / Social History, Philosophy, Social & cultural history, Philosophy of Science, Historiography, History of Science, Social and cultural history