This is very vague. What other threats? It seems like a virus wiping out most of humanity would decrease the likelihood of other threats. It would put an end to climate change, reduce the motivation for nuclear attacks and ability to maintain a nuclear arsenal, reduce the likelihood of people developing AGI, etc.
Humanity’s chances of realizing its potential are substantially lower when there are only a few thousand humans around, because the species will remain vulnerable for a considerable time before it fully recovers. The relevant question is not whether the most severe current risks will be as serious in this scenario, because (1) other risks will then be much more pressing and (2) what matters is not the risk survivors of such a catastrophe face at any given time, but the cumulative risk to which the species is exposed until it bounces back.
This is very vague. What other threats? It seems like a virus wiping out most of humanity would decrease the likelihood of other threats. It would put an end to climate change, reduce the motivation for nuclear attacks and ability to maintain a nuclear arsenal, reduce the likelihood of people developing AGI, etc.
Humanity’s chances of realizing its potential are substantially lower when there are only a few thousand humans around, because the species will remain vulnerable for a considerable time before it fully recovers. The relevant question is not whether the most severe current risks will be as serious in this scenario, because (1) other risks will then be much more pressing and (2) what matters is not the risk survivors of such a catastrophe face at any given time, but the cumulative risk to which the species is exposed until it bounces back.