1. Ripples on the Great Sea of Life

Outlining the history of Existential Risk Studies (ERS), this chapter divides the field into three “waves”, suggesting that the first wave developed from transhumanism, its advocation that humanity should transcend its biological limitations through new technologies, and the risks which followed. The second “wave” emerged out of the Effective Altruism movement and the related view of longtermism which encouraged the protection of humanity’s future through the reduction of existential risk. The third, most recent, “wave” has seen the interaction between ERS and other fields such as Disaster Studies and Environmental Science, a diverse interplay which allows for the greater growth of ERS. By laying out the evolution of ERS over the last two decades, this chapter not only offers a clear classification of the field and a digestible way in which to study existential risk, but provides space in which to consider the future of ERS itself and the next steps it will take.