December 4, 2004: Terrorism & Nanotechnology - Dr. Bart Kosko

Are we overestimating the terrorist threat while underestimating emerging technological dangers? Professor Bart Kosko, holding degrees in philosophy, economics, mathematics, and electrical engineering, challenges conventional wisdom about terrorism while exploring the revolutionary implications of nanotechnology. In a recent Los Angeles Times piece, Kosko argued that we have grossly overestimated the terrorist threat, questioning whether our obsessive focus on terrorism is blinding us to more significant challenges. The discussion examines the intersection of fear-based policy making and emerging technologies that could reshape human civilization. Professor Kosko explores how nanotechnology could revolutionize everything from medicine to warfare, potentially creating both unprecedented opportunities and existential risks. The conversation delves into the mathematical and philosophical frameworks needed to properly assess threats in an age of exponential technological change. This episode challenges listeners to reconsider their assumptions about security, technology, and the future, asking whether we are preparing for the right challenges or fixating on yesterday's fears while tomorrow's transformative technologies develop in the shadows.