---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Using figure B, we can stipulate that an…"
description: "\"“Using figure B, we can stipulate that an existential risk is equivalent to (i) all red-dot catastrophes, and (ii) any black-dot catastrophe that signi..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75f/phil-torres-87982_catastrophes_using-figure-b-we-can-stipulate-that-an_602980.jpg"
---

#  Using figure B, we can stipulate that an existential risk…

![“Using figure B, we can stipulate that an existential risk is equivalent to (i) all red-dot catastrophes, and (ii) any black-dot catastrophe that significantly compromises human well-being.*” quote by Phil Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75f/phil-torres-87982_catastrophes_using-figure-b-we-can-stipulate-that-an_602980.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75f/phil-torres-87982_catastrophes_using-figure-b-we-can-stipulate-that-an_602980.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75f/phil-torres-87982_catastrophes_using-figure-b-we-can-stipulate-that-an_602980.jpg)

> ““Using figure B, we can stipulate that an existential risk is equivalent to (i) all red-dot catastrophes, and (ii) any black-dot catastrophe that significantly compromises human well-being.\*””

[Phil Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-torres/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote defines existential risk as covering all major catastrophic events and any severe threats to human well‑being.

**In simple terms:** Existential risk includes all big catastrophes and severe threats to humanity.

Key Takeaway

Identify and prioritize both obvious and subtle threats to humanity.

Themes

risk philosophy future studies

Mood

concerned urgent

Type

analytical warning

When to use this quote

- policy planning
- global governance
- research funding
- public awareness

Key Concepts

existential risk human well‑being catastrophe analysis

Questions to Reflect On

- What threats are currently ignored in risk assessments?
- How can we better detect subtle threats?

A Different Perspective

It may overlook low‑probability, high‑impact events that are hard to quantify.

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[Catastrophe Significantly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catastrophe-significantly-4912382/) [Catastrophes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catastrophes/) [Catastrophes Ii](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catastrophes-ii-4912380/) [Dot Catastrophes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dot-catastrophes-4912381/) [Existential Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existential-risk-4912379/)

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> [Probably most catastrophes end this way without an ending, the dead not even knowing how they died...,those who loved them forever questioning "this unnecessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maclean/probably-most-catastrophes-end-this-way-without-an-ending-the-dead/)

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> [Catastrophes come when some dominant institution, swollen like a soap-bubble and still standing without foundations, suddenly crumbles at the touch of what may seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/catastrophes-come-when-some-dominant-institution-swollen-like-a-soap/)

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> [One of the strangest catastrophes that is in any history. A great king, with strong armies and mighty fleets, a great treasure and powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-burnet/one-of-the-strangest-catastrophes-that-is-in-any-history-a-great-king/)

[Gilbert Burnet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-burnet/)

> [“In the history of art, late works are the catastrophes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adorno-theodor-w/in-the-history-of-art-late-works-are-the-catastrophes/)

[Adorno, Theodor W](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adorno-theodor-w/)

> [“Is the destruction not, rather, irrefutable proof that the catastrophes which develop, so to speak, in our hands and seem to break out suddenly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-g-sebald-2/is-the-destruction-not-rather-irrefutable-proof-that-the-catastrophes/)

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> [“But I guess it never is what you worry over that comes to pass in the end. The real catastrophes are always different -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/but-i-guess-it-never-is-what-you-worry-over-that-comes-to-pass-in-the/)

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[Margaret Heffernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-heffernan/)

> [“-only human beings can recognize catastrophes, provided they survive them; Nature recognizes no catastrophes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-frisch/only-human-beings-can-recognize-catastrophes-provided-they-survive/)

[Max Frisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-frisch/)

## More by Phil Torres

> [“Indeed, it’s epistemology that makes the difference between being alarmed and being an alarmist, two attitudes often confused in public debates about big-picture risks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-torres/indeed-it-s-epistemology-that-makes-the-difference-between-being/)

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[Phil Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-torres/)

[Explore all 3 Phil Torres quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-torres/)

## More Catastrophes quotes

> [“-only human beings can recognize catastrophes, provided they survive them; Nature recognizes no catastrophes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-frisch/only-human-beings-can-recognize-catastrophes-provided-they-survive/)

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