The fear that actions like inventing new medicines, chemicals, and energy sources might have unknowable, irreversible, and ultimately catastrophic effects in the future leads to Furedi's third factor. Even as more people are living longer and healthier lives, life is perceived as a very dangerous thing. The boundary between analysis and speculation is eroded as worst case scenarios proliferate. What if an asteroid hits us; what if biotech wheat gets out of control; what if Iraq is giving weapons of mass destruction to terrorists? Worst case thinking decreases our cultural capacity to deal with uncertainty. Risk becomes something to avoid, not an opportunity to be seized.
(Via KurzweilAI.net.)
Monday, February 20, 2006
Culture of Fear
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Now, although I myself view risk-taking as an admirable trait in people, and I think that fear is perhaps our #1 most devastating dysfunction, this article helps to polarize an complex topic even more.
Who can question that there are certain activities we can accidentally engage in that would result in the end of mankind? So, there are certain risks that ought not be taken, simply because if the bad happens, the consequences are too severe.
Now, I for one agree with the sentiment that our culture has become way too fearful and cautious. That's one dysfunctional polarity. The opposite, a willful ignorance to take into account future consequences, is equally dysfunctional. That's the polarity this article seems to be coming from.
I'm more in the middle. Take risks, yes. Be an idiot, no.
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