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A provocative exploration of how humans are wired to seek short-term success at the expense of long-term survival – an evolutionary "glitch" that explains everything from toxic workplaces to climate change
In this eye-opening work, entrepreneur and philosopher Kristian Rönn argues that today's biggest challenges – climate change, fake news, artificial intelligence, even terrible bosses – are less the work of "bad people" doing "bad things" than the product of fundamental evolutionary forces. These forces compel us to act – but often in short-sighted ways that disadvantage others and imperil our own future prosperity. Rönn calls these deeply rooted impulses "Darwinian demons". Left unchecked, their consequences will grow in magnitude as the power of technology accelerates. In short, evolution has set a trap for us. How can we avoid it?
Rönn, who previously worked at the Future of Humanity Institute (the intellectual hub that has produced groundbreaking books including Superintelligence by Nick Bostrom and The Precipice by Toby Ord), shows that we must learn to cooperate in new ways if we are to surmount these Darwinian optimization traps, whether in the workplace or to solve our biggest existential threats. Evolution may be to blame for the trap – but humans need not fall for it. Our salvation, he writes, will involve the creation of new systems that understand, track, and manage what humankind values most.
Bold, brilliant, and ultimately optimistic, The Darwinian Trap is a new lens on humanity's past, present, and future – and a call to rethink our priorities for the sake of generations to come.
Kristian Rönn is the CEO and co-founder of Normative, a software tool for sustainability accounting. He has a background in mathematics, philosophy, computer science, and artificial intelligence. Before he started Normative, he worked at the University of Oxford's Future of Humanity Institute on issues related to global catastrophic risks.
"Kristian Rönn has written a vital and inspiring book, one that has the potential to break the spiral of self-interest. The Darwinian Trap is a must-read for anyone who cares about our collective future."
– Chris Anderson, head of TED and author of Infectious Generosity
"This is a timely and engaging exploration of why division makes humanity fall short of its potential, and of how and why we must collaborate to secure a more humane future."
– Max Tegmark, author of Life 3.0 and Our Mathematical Universe
"How can we recalibrate society's reward function to align with what humans intrinsically value? From addressing climate change to regulating artificial intelligence, Kristian Rönn stands out as one of the world's most insightful thinkers. In this panoramic book, Rönn makes a compelling case that by focusing on objectives that are too narrow, we risk undermining our collective future. Agree or disagree, The Darwinian Trap is unmissable."
– Carl Benedikt Frey, associate professor of AI and work, Oxford University
"As humanity's future hangs in the balance, it is crucial to understand the true nature of the enemy we are facing. The Darwinian Trap elegantly lifts the mask off this enemy and shows us the path to victory – essential reading for anyone on planet Earth."
– Liv Boeree, host of Win-Win podcast
"The Darwinian Trap is an important, eye-opening book that shows how evolutionary selection pressures are causing some of the most pressing global challenges we see today. Rönn brilliantly makes the case that the 'bad actor' blame game fueling so much public discourse can be replaced with frameworks that draw on humanity's greatest strengths: cooperation, analysis, and reason."
– William MacAskill, New York Times bestselling author of What We Owe the Future
