Overview
- Provides a unique analysis of the chances of human survivability in the short and long term
- Develops a formula for survival based on four separate measures
- Gives the numerical estimates of human survival
- Substantiates analysis with statistical models of similar processes
- Shows what is wrong with the existing Doomsday argument and how to fix it
Part of the book series: Springer Praxis Books (PRAXIS)
Part of the book sub series: Popular Science (POPS)
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Table of contents (6 chapters)
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Front Matter
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Back Matter
Keywords
About this book
This book will be a key trailblazer in a new and upcoming field. The author’s predictive approach relies on simple and intuitive probability formulations that will appeal to readers with a modest knowledge of astronomy, mathematics, and statistics. Wells’ carefully erected theory stands on a sure footing and thus should serve as the basis of many rational predictions of survival in the face of not only natural disasters such as hits by asteroids or comets, but perhaps more surprisingly from man-made hazards arising from genetic engineering or robotics.
Any formula for predicting human survival will invite controversy. Dr Wells counters anticipated criticism with a thorough approach in which four lines of reasoning are used to arrive at the same survival formula. One uses empirical survival statistics for business firms and stage shows. Another is based on uncertainty of risk rates. The third, more abstract, invokes Laplace’s principle of insufficient reason and involves an observer’s random arrival in the lifetime of the entity (the human race) in question. The fourth uses Bayesian theory.
The author carefully explains and gives examples of the conditions under which his principle is valid and provides evidence that can counteract the arguments of critics who would reject it entirely. His deflection of possible criticisms results from two major premises: selecting the proper random variable and “reference class” to make predictions, and the recognition that if one does not know the law that governs a process, then the best prediction that can be made is his own formula.
Reviews
From the reviews:
“After introducing the reader to key ideas in probability and statistics, Wells starts to develop ideas of probability based first on random-hazard rates … and then ideas based on our own history of survival as a species, and as a civilization. … the book reasonably accessible to the general reader … . The book is well organized, and is written in an easy style … .” (Robert Connon Smith, The Observatory, Vol. 131 (1222), June, 2011)Authors and Affiliations
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Apocalypse When?
Book Subtitle: Calculating How Long the Human Race Will Survive
Authors: Willard Wells
Series Title: Springer Praxis Books
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-09837-1
Publisher: Praxis New York, NY
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental Science, Earth and Environmental Science (R0)
Copyright Information: Praxis 2009
Softcover ISBN: 978-0-387-09836-4Published: 30 June 2009
eBook ISBN: 978-0-387-09837-1Published: 26 March 2010
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XXVIII, 212
Additional Information: Jointly published with Praxis Publishing
Topics: Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology, Popular Science in Astronomy, Statistics for Social Sciences, Humanities, Law, Mathematical Modeling and Industrial Mathematics