Between Human Extinction and the Extinction of Good Arguments: Placing Warning Signs for the Survival of Both

Authors

  • Murilo M. Vilaça Department of Drug Policy and Pharmaceutical Assistance (NAF), National School of Public Health (ENSP), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9720-5552

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7202/1124217ar

Keywords:

philosophy, bioethics, literature review, bundle of fallacies, good arguments

Language(s):

English

Abstract

This text is a response to Torres’ article on artificial superintelligence and human extinction. I place some warning signs on the author’s argumentative trajectory, arguing that the topic of human extinction is relevant, so it is necessary to correct the course at several points.

References

1. Torres ÉP. If artificial superintelligence were to cause our extinction, would that be so bad? Canadian Journal of Bioethics/Revue canadienne de bioéthique. 2025;8(3):74-85.

2. Pirie M. How to Win Every Argument: The Use and Abuse of Logic. New York: Continuum; 2007.

3. Gebru T, Torres, ÉP. The TESCREAL bundle: eugenics and the promise of utopia through artificial general intelligence. First Monday. 2024;29(4).

4. Agar N, Vilaça MM. On artificial superintelligence and the problem of charismatic extinction threats. Journal of Ethics and Emerging Technologies. 2025;35(2):1-12.

5. Torres ÉP. Digital eugenics and the extinction of humanity. Tech Policy Press. 11 Jul 2025.

6. Lavazza A, Vilaça MM. Human extinction and AI: what we can learn from the ultimate threat. Philosophy & Technology. 2024;37:16.

© Han Han Li

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Published

2026-03-16

How to Cite

[1]
Vilaça MM. Between Human Extinction and the Extinction of Good Arguments: Placing Warning Signs for the Survival of Both. Can. J. Bioeth 2026;9:165-7. https://doi.org/10.7202/1124217ar.

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 2 (2026): Open Issue

Section

"Response to" Commentaries

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Murilo M. Vilaça

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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