This is a linkpost for http://s-risks.org/risk-factors-for-s-risks/
Traditional disaster risk prevention has a concept of risk factors. These factors are not risks in and of themselves, but they increase either the probability or the magnitude of a risk. For instance, inadequate governance structures do not cause a specific disaster, but if a disaster strikes it may impede an effective response, thus increasing the damage.
Rather than considering individual scenarios of how s-risks could occur, which tends to be highly speculative, this post will instead look at risk factors – i.e. factors that would make s-risks more likely or more severe.
I don't have much to add, but I still wanted to say that I really liked this:
Thank you – great to hear that you've found it useful!
I think this is a great way to think about s-risks. One risk factor I am not sure was included was the dynamic of decoupling well-being from survivability. I write a bit about this here.
Essentially, I think a generic risk factor for s-risks includes any action, such as genetic engineering, that increases the ability for organisms to survive and reproduce regardless of their subjective experience.