Existential hope vs Existential Fear

05/09/2025 29 min
Existential hope vs Existential Fear

Listen "Existential hope vs Existential Fear"

Episode Synopsis


Existential risks to human life abound, from the threat of nuclear Armageddon; to an uninhabitable planet; or an AI-induced apocalypse. Understanding such risks and how we can best respond to them is the preoccupation of S. J. Beard. But the Cambridge University researcher also speaks of "existential hope", a way of addressing our fears without the doom and despair. Also, Monash University's, Neil Selwyn, makes the call for what he terms "digital degrowth" — decoupling our online world from the shackles of consumer capitalism.GuestsDr S. J. Beard — Senior Research Associate, Centre for the Study of Existential Risk, Cambridge UniversityProfessor Neil Selwyn — Faculty of Education, Monash UniversityFurther informationS.J. Beard - Existential HopeNeil Selwyn - Digital Degrowth: Radically Rethinking our Digital Futures