# Existential Threats

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/existential-threats/932232
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [February 5, 2021, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/existential-threats/932232 "2021-02-05T01:51:39Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 122

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### Author: ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2021, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/existential-threats/932232/122 "2021-02-10T01:40:21Z")

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> [@EastUmpqua](#):
>
> > [@wolfpup](#):
> >
> > I would consider an existential threat to humanity not just those things that may cause our total extinction
> 
> Existential means relating to existence. Words have meanings. &nbsp;

Words do indeed have meanings, as I am well aware. They often have multiple and subtly nuanced meanings. Merriam-Webster defines one of the meanings of “existential” as “grounded in existence or the experience of existence”. Hence the philosophy of existentialism: “a philosophy that emphasizes individual existence, freedom and choice. It is the view that humans define their own meaning in life, and try to make rational decisions despite existing in an irrational universe.”

Sure, “existential threat” _ **could** _ be interpreted in a narrow sense to mean a threat to our very existence, and hence a discussion about the imminent extinction of _homo sapiens_. But as I said, this is not a very useful or interesting discussion. A much more productive discussion grounded in reality would be about which threats pose the greatest risks to the quality of our experience of life on earth as we know it. I think it’s increasingly clear that climate change is by far the greatest such threat.

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