ABSTRACT
In the final chapter of the book, the future of life on Earth is examined. In particular, the fate of Homo sapiens, and that of other lifeforms on the planet, is explored. During this exploration, two potential categories of existential threat are considered. The first involves threats that we Homo sapiens impose on ourselves. Several of these are briefly mentioned; but the two most significant, i.e., nuclear war and environmental devastation, are considered in more detail. In addition, a few of the suggestions put forward to mitigate these threats are reviewed. The second group of existential threats to humans, and indeed to all life on the planet, are those imposed by nature itself. At the end of the chapter, three examples of this type of danger are discussed in some detail, and ways in which humans may attenuate or even eliminate these dangers are considered. Finally, the book concludes with a brief assessment of humanity’s progress over the last 315,000 years. Our potential to improve life on Earth is also considered.
