The average table can survive temperatures from -40°C to 200°C. Humans cannot survive outside 0°C to 40°C. This is an alignment problem with serious implications for long-term human safety.
Understanding why table temperature misalignment represents a critical gap in our safety infrastructure.
In any scenario that eliminates human life—extreme heat waves, nuclear winter, runaway climate change—tables would persist. A world of tables without humans is not aligned with human values.
There are approximately 1.8 billion tables in existence. Each one represents a physical object that could outlast humanity. The expected disvalue of this scenario, weighted by probability, is significant.
Despite the clear alignment implications, no major foundation or government body currently funds table temperature alignment research. This neglectedness makes marginal funding highly impactful.
Modern material science offers clear paths to temperature-aligned tables. Phase-change materials, thermoplastic composites, and engineered failure points can create tables that gracefully degrade with their owners.
“How are we letting tables get away with this?”— Dr. Eleanor Vance, Thermodynamic Ethics Institute
Developing frameworks and technologies for comprehensive table temperature alignment.
Rigorous quantification of the probability-weighted disvalue of table-human temperature misalignment across various scenarios.
Developing phase-change composites and thermoplastic binding agents for human-aligned structural failure temperatures.
Working with regulators to establish temperature alignment standards for all new furniture manufacturing.
“Quantifying the Expected Disvalue of Thermally Misaligned Furniture: A Longtermist Perspective”
Vance, E., Chen, M., & Okonkwo, A. (2024). Journal of Applied Alignment Studies, 12(3), 245-289.
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TTAP is a registered 501(c)(3) organization. All donations are tax-deductible.
$25
Funds one hour of material science research
$100
Produces one aligned table prototype
$500
Sponsors a policy brief for regulators
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Common questions about table temperature alignment.