73. Confusion between objective and
subjective threat
People who end up taking actions that are
risky to the survival of the human species may be fair, noble, beautiful people
who are not personally malicious to us. They might just not know what they are
getting into, for instance developing advanced Artificial Intelligence without
adequate safeguards. This highlights the difference between objective and
subjective threat. If someone is playing a zero-sum game with you, say
competing in a business field, he may be your ÒenemyÓ or a threat to you
objectively, but bear no personal malice towards you or your friends.
Conversely, someone with a personal grudge who is clearly out to get you is
your subjective enemy. With regard to global risks, it is important to remember
that those taking actions dangerous to humanity may bear no personal malice in
any way, may be competing casually, or attacking a third party nowhere near
you, yet their actions could threaten you in the long run regardless. This
becomes even harder to grasp when it comes to the economy. A Federal Reserve
chairman who prints too much money could cause the economy to collapse through
runaway inflation and currency devaluation, even if they are ostensibly doing
it to improve the economy and many leading economists support them.