One of the most noticeable trends in recent years has been the increasing reliance of public decision-making processes on algorithms, i.e. computer-programmed step-by-step instructions for taking a given set of inputs and producing an output. The question raised by this article is whether the rise of such algorithmic governance creates problems for the moral or political legitimacy of our public decision-making processes. Ignoring common concerns with data protection and privacy, it is argued that algorithmic governance does pose a significant threat (...) to the legitimacy of such processes. Modelling my argument on Estlund’s threat of epistocracy, I call this the ‘threat of algocracy’. The article clarifies the nature of this threat and addresses two possible solutions. It is argued that neither solution is likely to be successful, at least not without risking many other things we value about social decision-making. The result is a somewhat pessimistic conclusion in which we confront the possibility that we are creating decision-making processes that constrain and limit opportunities for human participation. (shrink)

I introduce game-theoretic models for threats to the discussion of threats in speech act theory. I first distinguish three categories of verbal threats: conditional threats, categorical threats, and covert threats. I establish that all categories of threats can be characterized in terms of an underlying conditional structure. I argue that the aim—or illocutionary point—of a threat is to change the conditions under which an agent makes decisions in a game. Threats are moves (...) in a game that instantiate a subgame in which the addressee is ‘under threat’. (shrink)

Most seem to presume that what is threatening about manipulation arguments is the ‘no difference’ premise – that is, the claim that there are no responsibility-relevant differences between a manipulated agent and her merely causally determined counterpart. This presumption underlies three recent replies to manipulation arguments from Kearns (2012), King (2013), and Schlosser (2015). But these replies fail to appreciate the true threat from manipulation arguments – namely, the manipulation cases that are allegedly counterexamples to the leading compatibilist conditions on (...) moral responsibility. This paper argues that if there is a counterexample to all the leading compatibilist conditions on moral responsibility then this is sufficient to undermine compatibilism. (shrink)

Resisters sometimes threaten self-harm to make demands. When the demands are unmet and the resisters carry through the threat, are their targets responsible for the self-imposed harm? Such scenarios are structurally similar to self-threatening extortions – where in paradigm cases of the latter, the targets often bear no responsibility for the self-imposed harm. People are generally responsible for taking care of their own well-being and interests when they can do so without unreasonable costs and barriers, and a mere threat cannot (...) transfer one’s self-responsibility to others. In the context of resistance against injustice, however, the unjust background conditions can constitute unreasonable costs and barriers. Moreover, the targets may have pre-existing duties to realise the content of what was demanded. In such scenarios, the targets can bear responsibility for the self-imposed harm. Refusing to give in to the threats can furthermore indicate the oppressor’s unwillingness to engage in moral dialogue. (shrink)

This paper addresses global bioethical challenges entailed in emerging viral diseases, focussing on their socio-cultural dimension and seeing them as symptomatic of the current era of globalisation. Emerging viral threats exemplify the extent to which humans evolved into a global species, with a pervasive and irreversible impact on the planetary ecosystem. To effectively address these disruptive threats, an attitude of preparedness seems called for, not only on the viroscientific, but also on bioethical, regulatory and governance levels. This paper (...) analyses the global bioethical challenges of emerging viral threats from a dialectical materialist (Marxist) perspective, focussing on three collisions: (1) the collision of expanding networks of globalisation with local husbandry practices; (2) the collision of global networks of mobility with disrupted ecosystems; and (3) the collision of viroscience as a globalised research field with existing regulatory frameworks. These collisions emerge in a force field defined by the simultaneity of the non-simultaneous. Evidence-based health policies invoke discontent as they reflect the normative logic of a globalised knowledge regime. The development of a global bioethics or macro-ethics requires us to envision these collisions not primarily as issues of benefits and risks, but first and foremost as normative tensions closely entangled with broader socio-economic and socio-cultural developments. (shrink)

I argue that there is an underappreciated threat posed by the emergence of generative artificial intelligence (AI). I call this the threat of creative obsolescence. The threat is that, given the capabilities of generative AI, humans may gradually abandon our creative pursuits, and in doing so, lose something of significant value. To show why the threat is a realistic possibility, I consider three kinds of value philosophers have attributed to creativity: aesthetic value, epistemic value, and practical value. I then offer (...) examples in which contemporary AI models appear to furnish value of each kind. I argue that the fact that AI appears capable of generating products with the same kinds of value for which human creativity has long been prized raises a question: Should humans continue to strive for creativity in the age of AI? I argue for three reasons to think we should. Each reason identifies a value of creativity that AI appears unable to replicate: imagination, originality, and connectedness. If I am right about any of these reasons, AI cannot fully replace the value of human creativity. But if we fail to recognize this and outsource our creative pursuits to AI, we risk a future in which the distinctive value of human creativity is lost. (shrink)

The Threat of Nuclear War Without Population Regulation -/- Introduction -/- The risk of nuclear war is one of the most pressing concerns of modern civilization. While many factors contribute to this threat—geopolitical rivalries, economic inequalities, and military expansion—one of the most overlooked yet critical factors is overpopulation. Without proper population regulation, resource scarcity, social unrest, and international conflicts may escalate to the point where nuclear war becomes not just possible, but inevitable. This essay explores how overpopulation intensifies global tensions (...) and why sustainable population policies are essential for long-term peace and stability. -/- Overpopulation and Resource Scarcity -/- As the global population continues to grow, the demand for essential resources such as food, water, energy, and land increases exponentially. However, Earth’s natural resources are finite. Many nations already struggle with shortages, leading to economic instability and competition. History has shown that resource scarcity often leads to conflicts—whether over oil, fresh water, or arable land. When nations perceive that their survival is at risk, they may resort to aggressive policies, including war, to secure their needs. -/- In a world where nuclear weapons exist, conflicts over resources could escalate beyond conventional warfare. Powerful nations with nuclear capabilities may feel compelled to use their arsenals to assert dominance or deter rival nations from taking aggressive actions. Without population control measures to balance resource consumption with sustainable growth, these tensions will only increase, raising the risk of global conflict. -/- Economic and Social Instability -/- Overpopulation is not just an environmental or resource issue; it also leads to economic and social instability. Rapid population growth in many developing nations has outpaced job creation, leading to high unemployment rates, poverty, and social unrest. Desperate populations are more susceptible to extremist ideologies, and political instability can make nuclear-armed states more unpredictable. -/- Furthermore, mass migrations caused by overpopulation and climate change put additional strain on already fragile regions. As developed countries struggle to accommodate large numbers of migrants, nationalist and militaristic policies may become more prevalent, increasing the likelihood of conflict. If such conflicts involve nuclear-armed nations or their allies, the risk of nuclear escalation grows. -/- Geopolitical Tensions and Military Expansion -/- As countries seek to secure their own survival in an overpopulated world, they often expand their military presence to protect their interests. Military build-ups create an arms race, which heightens tensions between rival nations. The Cold War is a historical example of how military competition, fueled by ideological and resource conflicts, nearly led to nuclear catastrophe. -/- In today’s multipolar world, with nuclear weapons in the hands of multiple states—including some with unstable governments—the risk is even higher. A single miscalculation or provocation could trigger a nuclear exchange. Population growth, by exacerbating existing geopolitical tensions, makes such miscalculations more likely. -/- The Role of Population Regulation in Preventing War -/- To reduce the likelihood of nuclear war, nations must adopt responsible population policies. These policies do not have to involve extreme depopulation but should focus on sustainable growth through education, healthcare, and economic planning. Providing universal access to family planning, promoting gender equality, and improving education systems can naturally slow population growth and create more stable societies. -/- Your universal formula, which emphasizes the law of balance in nature, aligns with this approach. If governments understand that unlimited population growth disrupts balance—leading to resource depletion, economic turmoil, and conflict—they may be more inclined to implement rational policies that maintain harmony between human civilization and the natural world. -/- Conclusion -/- Without population regulation, nuclear war remains a real possibility. Overpopulation intensifies resource conflicts, economic instability, and geopolitical tensions—all of which increase the risk of armed conflict between nuclear-armed states. However, through education, sustainable development, and rational governance, humanity can prevent this outcome. By integrating the universal law of balance in nature into educational and policy frameworks, we can create a future where population growth is managed responsibly, and the threat of nuclear war is minimized. -/- . (shrink)

In this study, we conceptualized a framework capturing recurring troublesome elements of mental states such as depression and general anxiety, assessing them by applying standard clinical inventory. The study explores the extent to which danger control and fear control under the Extended Parallel Processing Model (EPPM) threat impact job insecurity, with uncertainty phenomenon causing afflicting effect on the experiential nature of depression heightened by anxiety. With the aim to explore the job insecurity relationship with anxiety and depression, and measure the (...) impact of EPPM threat, an empirical study was conducted in the United States on a sample of 347 white collar employees. Demographic data, EPPM threat, job insecurity, anxiety, and depression data were collected via a standardized questionnaire during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The findings of the study suggest that job insecurity has a significant impact on depression and anxiety, whereas the threat of COVID-19 has a significant impact on depression. Mediating effects of job insecurity and EPPM threat impact on anxiety were not established in the study. The study contributes to the apprehension of the repercussions of major environmental disruptions on normal human functioning, and it investigates the effects of self-reported protective behaviors on risk perception. The study also explains the underlying mechanisms of coping behavior as possible antecedents to mental disorders. When subjected to stressful events, heightened psychological arousal causes physical and psychological challenges of affected employees to manifest as behavioral issues. (shrink)

This article examines the conceptualization and application of climate change as a "threat multiplier" in global security discourse. Originating within the U.S. national security community, the term describes how the physical impacts of climate change interact with and exacerbate pre-existing social, economic, and political vulnerabilities, thereby multiplying threats to peace and stability. While the framework has been instrumental in placing climate change on the security agenda, it is also critiqued for potentially constraining policy responses to a reactive, management-oriented posture (...) rather than promoting transformative change. This study employs a qualitative, comparative case study methodology to deconstruct the threat multiplier effect through its cascading impacts. It first analyzes the first-order impact of climate change on critical resources, with a focus on water stress in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and food insecurity in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. It then investigates the second-order human consequence of climate-induced migration, examining patterns in the Sahel, Bangladesh, and Central America, and highlighting the profound legal and geopolitical challenges posed by the lack of international protection for "climate refugees." Finally, through in-depth case studies of Syria and Sudan, the article analyzes how these combined pressures can culminate in the third-order outcome of political instability and violent conflict. The analysis reveals that governance is the critical mediating variable determining whether climate stress leads to instability. The article concludes by assessing the policy responses of the United Nations, European Union, and the United States, identifying key gaps, and advocating for an integrated policy framework that merges climate adaptation, development, and peacebuilding to address the multifaceted nature of climate-related security risks. (shrink)

The paper addresses the nature of duties grounded in human rights. Rather than being protections against harm, per se, I contend that human rights largely shield against risk impositions to protected interests. “Risk imposition” is a normative idea requiring explication, but understanding dutiful action in its terms enables human rights to provide prospective policy guidance, hold institutions accountable, operate in non-ideal circumstances, embody impartiality among persons, and define the moral status of agencies in international relations. Slightly differently, I indicate a (...) general understanding of dutiful action that permits human rights to see to the tasks of an institutional morality. (shrink)

In this paper, I develop and evaluate three new objections to the Unpopulated Hell View (UHV). First, I consider whether UHV is false because it presupposes that God makes threats, which a perfect being would not do. Second, I evaluate the argument that UHV is false because it entails that God coerces us and therefore limits our freedom to an objectionable degree. Third, I consider whether UHV is false because it implies that God is willing to damn some individuals (...) to Hell. I conclude that none of these objections defeats UHV. First, even if God’s creation or allowance of Hell constitutes a threat, a perfect God might choose to threaten us when doing so is in our best interest. Second, God’s creation or allowance of Hell is not coercive and does not limit our freedom to an objectionable degree. Third, although damnation in Hell is possible, God is unwilling to actualize it. In light of these findings, I stand by the conclusion from my initial article: UHV merits further consideration as a solution to the Problem of Hell. (shrink)

Due to the development of advanced identity based attacks and even complex cyber threats, merely possessing defensive cyber security capabilities is not enough today. In this study, we investigate how predictive analytics based machine learning (ML) can be employed for pro-active identity management and threat detection. In this study, the authors assess some models of machine learning – Decision Trees, Random Forests, Support Vector Machines (SVM), and a new hybrid one – to determine which best allows for the detection (...) of both known and unknown threats. The results reveal that in metrics such as accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score. The hybrid model incorporating both supervised and unsupervised learning approaches scored the highest among other models. As a consequence of its adaptability, the hybrid model is capable of real time dynamic threat detection and anomaly based identity management which makes it an appropriate model for the changing cyber security environment. This study provides the prospects to make proactive cybersecurity more efficient and therefore enhancing the technology for protection systems. (shrink)

Robert Kimball, in “What’s Wrong with Argumentum Ad Baculum?” (Argumentation, 2006) argues that dialogue-based models of rational argumentation do not satisfactorily account for what is objectionable about more malicious uses of threats encountered in some ad baculum arguments. We review the dialogue-based approach to argumentum ad baculum, and show how it can offer more than Kimball thinks for analyzing such threat arguments and ad baculum fallacies.

This paper offers an unorthodox appraisal of empirical research bearing on the question of the low representation of women in philosophy. It contends that fashionable views in the profession concerning implicit bias and stereotype threat are weakly supported, that philosophers often fail to report the empirical work responsibly, and that the standards for evidence are set very low—so long as you take a certain viewpoint.

This paper investigates the application of Security Threat Discovery Cards (STDCs) for identifying security risks in quantum sensing technologies within port security contexts. With the advent of quantum technologies, organizations and stakeholders face the challenge to explore and assess the impact of the applications these technologies will bring. This exploration faces the perceived incomprehensibility of quantum technologies, and suggests a preliminary step aimed at understanding these technologies. Our results suggest that organizations and companies considering the application of quantum technology can (...) skip this preliminary step and independently identify their main risks of quantum applications in a nuanced manner. Our case is an exploration of quantum sensing application by Port security personnel with the STDCs. The research consisted of two independent empirical studies: a workshop with Port of Moerdijk personnel using STDCs and semi-structured interviews with security experts. The comparative analysis of the findings from these studies demonstrates the STDCs’ efficacy in revealing with the Port’s personnel assessment of nuanced risks beyond the experts’ foresight. For example, the interviews with experts raised concerns regarding governance, ethical implications, and the human factor in quantum technology integration. The workshop with personnel not only suggested similar concerns but also uncovered additional risks, including socio-technical threats and broader societal impacts. (shrink)

This paper considers the connection between automaticity, control and agency. Indeed, recent philosophical and psychological works play up the incompatibility of automaticity and agency. Specifically, there is a threat of automaticity, for automaticity eliminates agency. Such conclusions stem from a tension between two thoughts: that automaticity pervades agency and yet automaticity rules out control. I provide an analysis of the notions of automaticity and control that maintains a simple connection: automaticity entails the absence of control. An appropriate analysis, however, shows (...) that actions are forms of control and pervasively automatic even if automaticity implies the absence of control. Consequences are drawn for the theory of mental agency and the psychological concepts of automaticity and control. (shrink)

Robert Kimball, in “What’s Wrong with ArgumentumAd Baculum?” (Argumentation, 2006) argues that dialogue-based models of rational argumentation do not satisfactorily account for what is objectionable about more malicious uses of threats encountered in some ad baculum arguments. We review the dialogue-based approach to argumentum ad baculum, and show how it can offer more than Kimball thinks for analyzing such threat arguments and ad baculum fallacies.

The article deals with issues related to Russian aggression against Ukraine in the context of the existing threat to sustainable development of Europe. Particular attention is drawn to the treachery of aggressive Russian policy towards not only the Ukrainian people but also the peoples of other countries which are traditionally considered to be the zone of influence and interests of the Kremlin. The authors have concluded that as long as the current Russian political leadership is poised to stay in power, (...) it is impossible to expect any democratic changes in this country. The mentality of war professed by both the Russian authorities and Russian society is in opposition to the existing basic European values and democratic freedoms. At the same time, even the replacement of the current government will not automatically improve the political situation in the country. Only the disintegration of Russia into separate independent states will deprive it of its imperial status. Ukraine is considered not only in terms of the necessary support and assistance from the perspective of the legal and moral foundations of human civilization but also as a likely candidate for an active role in the post war political configuration of Europe. This conviction, as stated in the article, is based on the significant achievements made by the Ukrainian people in recent years in the context of meeting European standards of life and work in the demonstrated success in protecting national interests, the very idea of the existence of an independent Ukrainian state. (shrink)

The scientific realism debate has now reached an entirely new level of sophistication. Faced with increasingly focused challenges, epistemic scientific realists have appropriately revised their basic meta-hypothesis that successful scientific theories are approximately true: they have emphasized criteria that render realism far more selective and, so, plausible. As a framework for discussion, I use what I take to be the most influential current variant of selective epistemic realism, deployment realism. Toward the identification of new case studies that challenge this form (...) of realism, I break away from the standard list and look to the history of celestial mechanics, with an emphasis on twentieth century advances. I then articulate two purely deductive arguments that, I argue, properly capture the historical threat to realism. I contend that both the content and form of these novel challenges seriously threaten selective epistemic realism. I conclude on a positive note, however, arguing for selective realism at a higher level. Even in the face of threats to its epistemic tenet, scientific realism need not be rejected outright: concern with belief can be bracketed while nonetheless advocating core realist tenets. I show that, in contrast with epistemic deployment realism, a purely axiological scientific realism can account for key scientific practices made salient in my twentieth century case studies. And embracing the realists favored account of inference, inference to the best explanation, while pointing to a set of the most promising alternative selective realist meta-hypothesis, I show how testing the latter can be immensely valuable to our understanding of science. (shrink)

In 'Ethics Without Sentience: Facing Up to the Probable Insignificance of Phenomenal Consciousness' (Kammerer, 2022), I argued that phenomenal consciousness is probably normatively insignificant, and does not play a significant normative role. In 'Preserving the Normative Significance of Sentience' (Dung, 2024), Leonard Dung challenges my reasoning and defends sentientism about value and moral status against my arguments. Here I respond to Dung's criticism, pointing out three flaws in his reply. My conclusion is that the view that phenomenal consciousness is distinctively (...) significant is still very much under threat. (shrink)

According to a venerable phenomenological claim which is still quite authoritative nowadays, our phenomenal field is necessarily unified at a time t. This means that everything we simultaneously experience in the first person is subjectively, representationally or at least phenomenally unified. Against this background, Tim Bayne (2010) provides an insightful overview of the various descriptive or empirical challenges to subjective and representational unity while also demonstrating that the claim of phenomenal unity singularly resists these objections. The primary objective of my (...) article, however, is to critically examine the robustness of the phenomenal unity claim, highlighting a specific neuro-divergent condition: “Depersonalization and Derealization Disorder.” In doing so, I aim to introduce a new argument against the phenomenal unity of consciousness. My second objective is to draw on recent empirical evidence linking DPDR symptoms to the use of virtual reality (VR) to explore whether VR could be regarded as an indirect threat to phenomenal unity. (shrink)

This paper examines the increasing importance of robust cybersecurity measures in the digital payments industry. As the volume and value of online financial transactions continue to grow exponentially, the sector faces a corresponding surge in cyber-attacks, necessitating advanced cybersecurity protocols. This study explores key cybersecurity measures and implementation strategies, including encryption, multi-factor authentication (MFA), tokenization, artificial intelligence (AI)- based fraud detection, and regulatory compliance, to safeguard digital payments against various cyber threats. Through a detailed review of existing literature, case (...) studies, and statistical analysis, the article provides strategic insights into how organizations can enhance security in digital payment ecosystems, maintain compliance, and achieve resilience in the face of evolving cyber threats. (shrink)

Minimal responsibility threateners are epistemically justified but mistaken in thinking that imposing a nonnegligible risk on others is permissible. On standard accounts, an MRT forfeits her right not to be defensively killed. I propose an alternative account: an MRT is liable only to the degree of harm equivalent to what she risks causing multiplied by her degree of responsibility. Harm imposed on the MRT above that amount is justified as a lesser evil, relative to allowing the MRT to kill her (...) victim. This hybrid account, which generalizes to those are who are more than minimally responsible, has considerable advantages. (shrink)

The time window between the disclosure of a new cyber vulnerability and its use by cybercriminals has been getting smaller and smaller over time. Recent episodes, such as the Log4j vulnerability, exemplify this well. Within hours after the exploit being released, attackers started scanning the internet looking for vulnerable hosts to deploy threats like crypto currency miners and ransom ware on vulnerable systems. Thus, it becomes imperative for the cybersecurity defense strategy to detect threats and their capabilities as (...) early as possible to maximize the success of prevention actions. Although crucial, discovering new threats is a challenging activity for security analysts due to the immense volume of data and information sources to be analyzed for signs that a threat is emerging. In this sense, we present a framework for automatic identification and profiling of emerging threats using Twitter messages as a source of events and MITRE ATT&CK as a source of knowledge for threat characterization. The framework comprises three main parts: identification of cyber threats and their names; profiling the identified threat in terms of its intentions or goals by employing two machine learning layers to filter and classify tweets; and alarm generation based on the threat’s risk . The main contribution of our work is the approach to characterize or profile the identified threats in terms of their intentions or goals, providing additional context on the threat and avenues for mitigation. In our experiments, the profiling stage reached an F1 score of 77% in correctly profiling discovered threats. (shrink)

According to the account of artifacts developed by Lynne Rudder Baker, artifacts have a certain “proper function” essentially. The proper function of an artifact is the purpose or use intended for the artifact by its “author(s)”, viz., the artifact’s designer(s) and/or producer(s). Baker’s account therefore traces the essences of artifacts back indirectly to the intentions of an artifact’s original author (e.g., its inventor, maker, producer or designer). Like other “author-intention-based” accounts (e.g., those defended by Amie Thomasson, Simon Evnine, and others), (...) Baker’s treatment, or so I have argued, is subject to the concern that, when stated in its most general form, human creative intentions are not nearly as powerful and discriminating as proponents of author-intention-based accounts make them out to be (see Kathrin Koslicki, Form, Matter, Substance, Oxford University Press, 2018, Chapter 8). When Baker responds to a version of this objection launched against her account by Theodore Sider and Dean Zimmerman, she proposes that we cannot simply think things into existence for which “our conventions and practices do not have a place” (Lynne Rudder Baker, The Metaphysics of Everyday Life: An Essay in Practical Realism, 2007, p. 44). For example, I cannot, according to Baker, make up the word, “bonangle”, apply it to a piece of driftwood and thereby succeed in bringing into existence a new artifact, viz., a bonangle, merely by thinking to myself “It would be nice if the world contained bonangles; I hereby make that piece of driftwood a bonangle”. In order for this response to be effective, however, more needs to be said about how our conventions and practices support the creation of some artifacts and artifact kinds, while disallowing the attempted creation of others. In this paper, I examine the effectiveness of Baker’s response in addressing the challenges posed by the inclusion of artifacts in Baker’s practical realist ontology. (shrink)

Is drastic action against global warming essential to avoid impoverishing our descendants? Or does it mean robbing the poor to give to the rich? We do not yet know. Yet most of us can agree on the importance of minimising expected deprivation. Because of the vast number of future generations, if there is any significant risk of catastrophe, this implies drastic and expensive carbon abatement unless we discount the future. I argue that we should not discount. Instead, the rich countries (...) should stump up the funds to support abatement both for themselves and the poor states of the world. Yet to ask the present generation to assume all the costs of drastic mitigation.is unfair.Worse still, it is politically unrealistic.We can square the circle by shifting part of the burden to our descendants. Even if we divert investment from other parts of the economy or increase public debt, future people should be richer, so long as we avert catastrophe. If so, it is fair for them to assume much of the cost of abatement.What we must not do is to expose them to the threat of disaster by not doing enough. (shrink)

Moral grandstanding, or the use of moral talk for self-promotion, is a threat to free expression. When grandstanding is introduced in a public forum, several ideals of free expression are less likely to be realized. Popular views are less likely to be challenged, people are less free to entertain heterodox ideas, and the cost of changing one’s mind goes up.

Abstract: This paper talks about the threats of land Resources management due to the problem of rapid increase of population growth in Zanzibar Island. Actual there are many threats that are investigated and proved by this study. The land environmental degradation, cutting down the forest for formation of charcoal as their income sources as well as drilling the minerals includes sand and stone are the ones of the threats of land resources management due to the highly increasing (...) of population growth in Zanzibar Island especially, to the urban and sub urban in the coastal zones in both Unguja and Pemba Island. Apart from that, the study, had also proved that, the Government had establish the strict laws for those who involving in the environmental degradation and also had select the special areas for farming with the providing the proper education to the communities concerning on how to use the Land Resources in a proper and legal manner. (shrink)

From the perspective of natural civilization and cybernetic control theory, this paper systematically analyzes the profound threats that dictatorial regimes pose to civilizational systems. Natural civilization emphasizes that societies must obey natural laws, maintain system feedback, and uphold ecological balance, while the cybernetic perspective treats civilization as a complex adaptive system reliant on constraints, feedback loops, and self-regulation. This study introduces the concept of “civilization-level madness,” referring to the systemic collapse arising from the interaction of ideological expansion, absolute power, (...) and institutional failure. Through historical case studies, it examines how the totalitarian practices of Mao Zedong, Adolf Hitler, and Joseph Stalin violated natural laws, disrupted ecological and social feedback, concentrated power, and weakened institutional oversight, resulting in large-scale famine, war, and cultural ruptures. Using a cybernetic model of civilization, this paper explains how totalitarian actions amplify local errors into global systemic crises and reveal the fragility of civilizational continuity. Finally, principles for preventing dictatorship and protecting civilizational systems are proposed, including rational constraints, institutional checks and balances, education and philosophical warnings, ecological civilization, and risk management in technology, energy, and artificial intelligence. The study emphasizes that dictatorship is not merely a political problem but the most direct and profound lethal threat to natural civilization. The paper aims to provide modern civilization with scientifically, philosophically, and systemically grounded warnings and protection strategies. (shrink)

This paper argues that contact experiencers, or those who report experiences with advanced intelligences they suspect or believe are non-human, should be taken seriously as victims of epistemic injustice. Through comparison with other groups of knowers who report a constitutive experience, we surface situations in which speakers are doubted on the grounds that the constitutive experience is argued not to be possible, in part because it poses an ontological threat to hearers’ conceptions of identity or reality. Experiences may threaten hearers’ (...) existing ontological categories, introduce ontological ambiguity, or suggest a need for new ontological categories. We show that contact experiencer claims represent threats in all three of these ways, as well as threats to anthropocentric norms and the perceived human knowability of the world. To begin to redress these harms, we suggest a radical phenomenology coupled with ontological openness as a starting point for restorative hearing. (shrink)

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is an invasive therapeutic method involving the implantation of electrodes and the electrical stimulation of specific areas of the brain to modulate their activity. DBS brings therapeutic benefits, but can also have adverse side effects. Recently, neuroethicists have recognized that DBS poses a threat to the very fabric of human existence, namely, to the selves of patients. This article provides a review of the neuroethical literature examining this issue, and identifies the crucial dimensions related to the (...) self which DBS may endanger—personal identity, authenticity, and autonomy. The most influential theories accounting for these dimensions are analyzed herein, and it is argued that most of these theories require further refinement. This paper also demonstrates the interrelation between personal identity, authenticity, and autonomy, and concludes that one can only fully understand the impact of DBS on the self when all of these factors are taken into account. (shrink)

In 2024, the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity presents both unprecedented challenges and significant opportunities. This article explores the evolving landscape of AI-driven cyber threats, the advancements in AI-enabled security measures, and the strategic responses required to navigate these new realities. Leveraging statistics, trends, and expert insights, we delve into how organizations can enhance their cybersecurity posture in the face of sophisticated AI threats.

Since security threats in IoT-enabled smart cities may not appear clear and present to detection mechanisms, efforts have been made to use artificial intelligence methods for anomaly detection. Anomaly detection has been performed using unsupervised learning approaches (Autoencoders, GANs, One Class SVMs) in turn, with these instances considered security threats. In addition, an element for patches and traffic redirection in real time is included in the framework. Results show that the AI detection in general has much more security (...) resilience, decreasing possible attack vectors. This makes the integration of various features like AI, blockchain, and IDS for a solid IoT security a must. Since security threats in IoT-enabled smart cities may not appear clear and present to detection mechanisms, efforts have been made to use artificial intelligence methods for anomaly detection. Anomaly detection has been performed using unsupervised learning approaches (Autoencoders, GANs, One-Class SVMs) in turn, with these instances considered security threats. In addition, an element for patches and traffic redirection in real time is included in the framework. Results show that the AI detection in general has much more security resilience, decreasing possible attack vectors. This makes the integration of various features like AI, blockchain, and IDS for a solid IoT security a must. (shrink)

The contribution of this paper is a comprehensive cybersecurity framework to secure cloud hosted Guidewire implementations by addressing critical security challenges such as threat detection, incident response, compliance, and system performance. Based on advanced technologies like machine learning, behavioral analytics and auto patching, the framework detects and mitigates known and unknown threats, incidentally zero-day exploit. The system does this through micro segmenting, behavioral anomaly detection, and automated patch orchestration in a way that does not render the system unperforming. Key (...) performance metrics of threat detection time (less than 3 seconds), incident response (patching within 5 minutes) and system availability (99.95% uptime) are all tested as the framework outperforms in all of these. Additionally, the framework ascertains industry standards such as GDPR and HIPAA via automated audit trails and ongoing monitoring. Compared to the currently deployed cloud security, the proposed approach, with a special focus on more secure the Guidewire application deployed in the cloud, offers a multi layered security approach to the modules specific to the Guidewire. Though powerful, the framework also suffers from complexity in its deployment, overhead in terms of performance and a reliance on cloud provider-specific features. The scalability will need to improve, and the product will need to support multiple clouds and integrate advanced technology such as quantum computing and AI-powered threat intelligence. This work sets a solid basis for the protection of cloud-based Guidewire systems against future cyber threats while maintaining operational continuity and system compliance. (shrink)

The proliferation of multi-cloud architectures has introduced significant complexities in cyber security, necessitating advanced solutions to safeguard distributed infrastructures. Traditional security models often fall short in addressing the dynamic and heterogeneous nature of multi-cloud environments. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force in enhancing threat detection capabilities, offering proactive and adaptive security measures. This paper explores the integration of AI - driven threat detection systems within multi-cloud frameworks, emphasizing their role in identifying and mitigating security threats in (...) real-time. AI technologies, particularly machine learning algorithms, enable the analysis of vast amounts of data across diverse cloud platforms, facilitating the detection of anomalous patterns and potential threats. By leveraging predictive analytics, AI systems can anticipate and neutralize threats before they manifest, thereby reducing the risk of data breaches and system compromises. Furthermore, AI enhances the efficiency of Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems by automating the correlation and analysis of security events, leading to faster incident response times. The implementation of AI - driven threat detection in multi-cloud environments also addresses challenges related to scalability and resource optimization. AI systems can dynamically adjust to varying workloads and security demands, ensuring consistent protection across all cloud platforms. This adaptability is crucial in maintaining robust security postures amidst the evolving threat landscape. In conclusion, the adoption of AI-driven threat detection systems in multi-cloud environments represents a significant advancement in cyber security practices. By providing proactive, scalable, and efficient security measures, AI contributes to the resilience and integrity of multi-cloud infrastructures, safeguarding organizations against an increasingly sophisticated array of cyber threats. (shrink)

This chapter discusses how research in situationist social psychology may pose largely undiscussed threats to autonomous agency, free will, and moral responsibility.

Illegal migration has become a critical and ongoing challenge for India, affecting the country’s national security, economic stability, and social harmony. This paper focuses specifically on individuals who enter or remain in India without legal authorization and engage in criminal activities, misuse public resources, or violate laws. Unlike legal migrants or refugees who seek protection and contribute positively, these unauthorized migrants often strain India’s infrastructure and public services, creating challenges for law enforcement and governance. This study analyzes the risks posed (...) by illegal migration, including threats to internal security, involvement in crime, and socio-economic pressures on local communities. It highlights the shortcomings in India’s current legal and administrative systems, which largely rely on outdated laws and fragmented policies that vary across states. To address these gaps, the paper proposes a comprehensive, technology-driven national framework that integrates advanced digital identity verification, artificial intelligence-based document authentication, and smart border surveillance systems. Key technological solutions include enhancing the Aadhaar system with a citizenship verification layer, deploying AI to detect forged documents, using satellite imagery to monitor illegal settlements, and implementing a centralized migrant tracking database. Alongside technology, the paper recommends legal reforms, improved coordination between central and state authorities, and ethical enforcement practices that respect humanitarian principles. By adopting this structured approach, India can better protect its borders, uphold its sovereignty, and maintain social cohesion without compromising on democratic values or international humanitarian commitments. This paper aims to provide a clear roadmap for policymakers and security agencies to tackle illegal migration effectively while ensuring fairness and justice for all residents. Keywords: Illegal Migration, India, National Security, Socioeconomic Stability, Strategic Solutions, Border Management, Immigration Policy, Demographic Impact, Internal Security, Technology in Border Control, Human Trafficking, Policy Framework, Refugee Crisis, Migration Governance, National Integration. (shrink)

I put forward a novel cognitive architecture for pain, fear, and anxiety, according to which these three capacities are underpinned by a common threat-detection mechanism. This mechanism takes information about potential threats as input, assesses whether the threat is actual and, if it deems it is, outputs a threat representation. If this is correct, pain, fear, and anxiety turn out to be different manifestations of the same cognitive mechanism. I defend my proposal by discussing a large swath of convergent (...) evidence from different quarters of the sciences of the mind. (shrink)

The paper defends the argument that the Resemblance Paradox (RP), or the problem of the ‘under-determination of meaning’, and the Rule-Following Paradox (RFP) are two sides of the same paradox threatening meaning from opposite extremes. After presenting the case, the paradox is reconsidered anew and the supposition that the threat is a pervasive one is challenged.

Many contemporary epistemologists hold that a subject S’s true belief that p counts as knowledge only if S’s belief that p is also, in some important sense, safe. I describe accounts of this safety condition from John Hawthorne, Duncan Pritchard, and Ernest Sosa. There have been three counterexamples to safety proposed in the recent literature, from Comesaña, Neta and Rohrbaugh, and Kelp. I explain why all three proposals fail: each moves fallaciously from the fact that S was at epistemic risk (...) just before forming her belief to the conclusion that S’s belief was formed unsafely. In light of lessons from their failure, I provide a new and successful counterexample to the safety condition on knowledge. It follows, then, that knowledge need not be safe. Safety at a time depends counterfactually on what would likely happen at that time or soon after in a way that knowledge does not. I close by considering one objection concerning higher-order safety. (shrink)

As scientific progress approaches the point where significant human enhancements could become reality, debates arise whether such technologies should be made available. This paper evaluates the widespread concern that human enhancements will inevitably accentuate existing inequality and analyzes whether prohibition is the optimal public policy to avoid this outcome. Beyond these empirical questions, this paper considers whether the inequality objection is a sound argument against the set of enhancements most threatening to equality, i.e., cognitive enhancements. In doing so, I shall (...) argue that cognitive enhancements can be embraced wholeheartedly, for three separate reasons. However, though the inequality objection does not sufficiently support the conclusion that cognitive enhancements should be prohibited, it raises several concerns for optimal policy design that shall be addressed here. (shrink)

In contemporary academic, political, and media discourse, terrorism is typically portrayed as an existential threat to lives and states, a threat driven by religious extremists who seek the destruction of Western civilization and who are immune to reason and negotiation. In many countries, including the US, the UK, and Australia, this existential threat narrative of terrorism has been used to justify sweeping counterterrorism legislation, as well as military operations and even the use of tactics such as torture and indefinite detention. (...) In this chapter I outline the components of the existential threat narrative, and explain how critical terrorism scholars have critiqued this narrative on two main grounds: that it is based on false empirical claims about the nature, scale, and motivations of modern non-state terrorism, and that counterterrorism policies and practices based on this narrative have had extremely destructive consequences for individuals, communities, and states—in some cases, causing far more destruction than terrorism itself. In the final section I offer some suggestions for the direction of future terrorism research in light of these critiques of the existential threat narrative. (shrink)

This book aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), including their characteristics, origins, methods, consequences, and defense strategies, with a focus on detecting these threats. It explores the concept of advanced persistent threats in the context of cyber security and cyber warfare. APTs represent one of the most insidious and challenging forms of cyber threats, characterized by their sophistication, persistence, and targeted nature. The paper examines the origins, characteristics and methods used by (...) APT actors. It also explores the complexities associated with APT detection, analyzing the evolving tactics used by threat actors and the corresponding advances in detection methodologies. It highlights the importance of a multi-faceted approach that integrates technological innovations with proactive defense strategies to effectively identify and mitigate APT. (shrink)

The Real-Time Cyber Threat Detection and Response System is an intelligent security framework designed to proactively identify, analyze, and respond to cyber threats in real time. With the growing sophistication of cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure, traditional static defense mechanisms are no longer sufficient. This system addresses that gap by leveraging machine learning algorithms and dimensionality reduction techniques such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to enable accurate and efficient threat detection. The system captures input data, such as network traffic or (...) log features, and processes it through a trained machine learning model to classify instances as normal or malicious. A pre-trained model, stored using Python's pickle module, evaluates the processed input, while PCA ensures that irrelevant or redundant features are minimized to boost performance and reduce computation time. The application is deployed as a web-based interface using Flask, providing functionalities like secure data upload, dataset preview, performance visualization, and threat prediction. Users can interact with the system in real time, upload network traffic datasets, and receive instant feedback on potential threats. The platform is built to support automated response mechanisms, which can be extended to alert generation, logging, or blocking malicious activities. (shrink)

The present study examined how exposure to the performance of in-group and out-group members can both exacerbate and minimize the negative effects of stereotype threat. Female participants learned that they would be taking a math test that was either diagnostic or nondiagnostic of their math ability. Prior to taking the test, participants interacted with either an in-group peer (a female college student) or an out-group peer (a male college student) who had just taken the test and learned that the student (...) had either performed well or poorly on the test. Exposure to either an in-group or an out-group peer whose performance was consistent with the negative stereotype (a poor-performing female or a strong-performing male) exacerbated stereotype threat effects. In contrast, exposure to an in-group or an out-group peer whose performance challenged the negative stereotype (a strong-performing female or a poor-performing male) eliminated stereotype threat effects. These findings demonstrate that people can look to both in-group and out-group peers as sources of inspiration in the context of a negative stereotype. (shrink)

Educational disparities between traditional and non-traditional student groups in higher distance education can potentially be reduced by alleviating social identity threat and strengthening students’ sense of belonging in the academic context. We present a use case of how Learning Analytics and Machine Learning can be applied to develop and implement an algorithm to classify students as at-risk of experiencing social identity threat. These students would be presented with an intervention fostering a sense of belonging. We systematically analyze the intervention’s intended (...) positive consequences to reduce structural discrimination and increase educational equity, as well as potential risks based on privacy, data protection, and algorithmic fairness considerations. Finally, we provide recommendations for Higher Education Institutions to mitigate risk of bias and unintended consequences during algorithm development and implementation from an ethical perspective. (shrink)

Deliberative democracy is increasingly criticised as out of touch with the realities of partisan politics. This paper considers the rise of fake and hyperpartisan news as one source of this scepticism. While popular accounts often blame such content on citizens’ political biases and motivated reasoning, I survey the empirical evidence and argue that it does not support strong claims about the inability of citizens to live up to deliberative ideals. Instead, much of this research is shown to support the deliberative (...) capacities of citizens and points to their potential in helping to reduce the spread of false and misleading content. (shrink)

The increasing rate and sophistication of cyber attacks pose a major risk to health data security. Traditional security systems cannot handle advanced ransomware, insider threats, and phishing attacks and hence incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) into cybersecurity solutions becomes the need of the hour. AI-based security solutions leverage machine learning, behavior analysis, and real-time anomaly detection to identify and counter threats before they affect sensitive patient information. This study examines real-world case studies where AI successfully prevented cyberattacks in (...) healthcare settings, including a major U.S. hospital mitigating a ransomware attack, a European health system detecting insider threats, and a telemedicine platform blocking phishing attempts. The findings demonstrate AI’s superior threat detection, rapid response capabilities, and potential to enhance regulatory compliance. Even with significant advancements introduced by AI, challenges such as false positives, data privacy, and ethics exist. This article highlights the pioneering function of AI in protecting healthcare data and presents a vision on the future of AI-based cyber protection. (shrink)