The future of ethics and emerging technologies
A conference in Central London (SE1), organised by the IEET and London Futurists
Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th September
Venue: LSBU Hub – London South Bank University
Brief description
We live in a time of dramatic changes in the capabilities of technologies. Political and social norms are being disrupted as never before. The future is deeply uncertain. Humanity faces a bewildering mix of risks of catastrophe. But we also have the potential to transition to a new state of civilisation – a new relationship with technology and the environment – featuring unparalleled increases in all-round flourishing.
In this state of confusion and turmoil, how can society reach the wisest decisions about which technologies to encourage and which to constrain? How can society ensure that these decisions are followed in practice, rather than being ignored or subverted by powerful self-interested forces? How can a technoprogressive coalition grow in strength, as a decisive counter to existing worldviews which are more likely to leave humanity diminished, fragmented, or even extinct?
These are the questions at the heart of the technoprogressive opportunity.
Themes
Speakers are invited to address themes such as:
- Politics and human enhancement
- Technologies for collaboration
- Democracy in the wake of AI
- Abundance: Creating it, sustaining it, and sharing it
- The techlash as a catalyst for profound change
- The Technoprogressive Declaration, 12 years later
- Beyond the Green New Deal: global health and technological justice
- Society as a Service – assessing the Network State
- The impending Economic Singularity: myth or reality?
- AI misalignment: how bad could things get?
- Regulation in the era of augmented capabilities
- PostCapitalism and PostSocialism
- Progressive politics if there’s no working class
- Escaping from Molloch: avoiding the race to the bottom
- The Longevity Dividend: making it real
- Alternative banners: transhumanism, vitalism, ecomodernism, or what?
- From Cold War 2.0 to a new world order?
- Ethics: by whom and for whom?
- Lobbying for better policies: dos and don’ts
- Concrete next steps in building the technoprogressive coalition
About the venue
Address: 100-116 London Road, SE1 6LN
We’ll be in the Southwark Lecture Theatre (illustrated)
LSBU Hub is within a 20 minutes walk from either Waterloo, London Bridge, or Borough Market.
The venue can also be reached by a two minutes walk from the Elephant and Castle tube station: take the exit signposted as “South Bank University”.
Also in the neighbourhood
Accommodation
- H10 London Waterloo (4 star hotel)
- Travelodge London Waterloo
- City Hotel London (3 star hotel)
Pubs and restaurants
- Nando’s
- The Rockingham Arms (Wetherspoons pub)
- Others to be investigated
Speakers
To be announced
Note: All speakers are expected to give their presentation in person, at the LSBU Hub venue.
Schedule
To be announced
Likely to run from 9:30am to 5pm on the Saturday and from 10am to 4:30pm on the Sunday.
Registration
RSVP ‘Yes’, for yourself and up to two guests, on this Meetup page, if you expect to attend.
In case of any difficulties or questions, please contact the organisers.
Options to obtain tickets to join speakers for dinner gatherings will be publicised nearer the time of the conference.
London Futurists 