A second November selection, examining Harari’s questions about technology, human ambition, and possible futures.
This book is on the upcoming reading shelf. The notes below introduce the selection; a personal rating and full review will follow after reading.
About this selection
Harari explores how developments such as artificial intelligence and biotechnology could alter human priorities, authority, and our understanding of ourselves. The book uses a broad historical perspective to frame possible futures and their consequences.
The reading focus will be the assumptions behind those possibilities. We will distinguish a thought-provoking scenario from a prediction, and consider where human choice, institutions, and competing values can shape a different outcome.
A STARTING POINT FOR REFLECTION
Questions to read with
Which assumptions must hold for the futures described in the book to become plausible?
Where might greater technical capability conflict with human agency or shared values?
What choices remain open to individuals and institutions, even when technological change appears powerful?