What kind of future do we want to create and why? This panel explores the philosophical implications of scientific advancements like artificial intelligence and human enhancement, which have the potential to revolutionize our world. Is fear overriding optimism in our approach to the future?
Luke Dormehl (@lukedormehl) is a technology author and journalist, with a background in documentary film. He regularly contributes to Digital Trends, and has written for Fast Company, the Guardian, Sunday Times and other publications. His previous books include The Apple Revolution, The Formula and most recently Thinking Machines: The inside story of Artificial Intelligence and our race to build the future.
Laurie Penny (@PennyRed) is a journalist and author, most recently of the novella Everything Belongs to the Future. She is a contributing editor and columnist for the New Statesman and a frequent writer on social justice, pop culture, gender issues, and digital politics for the Guardian, the New Inquiry, Salon, the Nation, Vice, the New York Times and many other publications. Her blog Penny Red was shortlisted for the Orwell Prize in 2010. In 2012, Britain’s Tatler magazine described her as one of the top “100 people who matter.” Her most recent nonfiction book is Unspeakable Things: Sex, Lies, and Revolution.
Nick Srnicek (@n_srnck) is a lecturer in International Political Economy at City, University of London. He is the author of Platform Capitalism and Inventing the Future (with Alex Williams). With Helen Hester he is currently writing After Work.
Jason Alexander is Professor of Philosophy at LSE and the co-ordinator of the MSc Philosophy of the Social Sciences.
Suggested Twitter hashtag for this event: #LSELitFest
This event forms part of the LSE Space for Thought Literary Festival 2017, taking place from Monday 20 - Saturday 25 February 2017, with the theme “Revolutions”.
Podcast
A podcast of this event is available to download from The Future of Humanity
Podcasts and videos of many LSE events can be found at the LSE Public Lectures and Events: podcasts and videos channel.
Slides
A copy of Nick Srnicek's PowerPoint can be downloaded: The Future of Humanity (pdf)