Beyond Risk and Reward

Every day, we make choices involving risk. But when those choices could threaten humanity’s future, conventional calculations of costs and benefits may no longer be adequate. From nuclear weapons and climate change to genetic engineering and artificial intelligence, the consequences of our decisions can extend far beyond our own lifetimes.

In this book, philosopher Martin Bunzl challenges traditional theories of rational decision-making, arguing that existential risks demand a fundamentally different approach.

Rather than weighing the possibility of human extinction against potential benefits, he proposes a moral obligation to avoid such risks whenever scientifically credible alternatives exist. Drawing on philosophy, economics and scientific research, Bunzl examines major contemporary threats, distinguishes genuine existential dangers from exaggerated fears, and explores our responsibilities towards future generations. He also considers how individuals confront uncertainty when making decisions about their own lives when making choices beyond a limited time horizon.

Accessible yet intellectually rigorous, this book will appeal to general readers interested in global challenges and ethics, alongside students and scholars of philosophy, decision theory, public policy and risk studies.