Final answer:
The phrase “bubble wrapping ourselves from these risks” is about taking excessive preventive measures to shield ourselves from potential catastrophic outcomes. It implies being over-prepared, much like using bubble wrap to protect fragile items, accepting the cost of preparation to avoid the much more significant cost of facing unmitigated disasters.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase “bubble wrapping ourselves from these risks” mentioned by Parissa Safai refers to the concept of protecting oneself from potential risks in such a way that it might be seen as excessively cautious. When it comes to managing risks, especially those that carry the potential for catastrophic outcomes (e.g., serious health crises, financial collapse), some argue for a proactive approach. This can be seen as “bubble wrapping,” or shielding, ourselves from the negative consequences of risks through preventive measures, much like bubble wrap is used to protect fragile items from damage during shipment.
An example illustrating this concept might be governments investing in robust healthcare systems even though the immediate necessity might not be apparent. The seemingly over-prepared status serves as a “bubble wrap” against health crises. Another analogy would be the purchasing of insurance; even though the likelihood of a disastrous event occurring may be low, the potential consequences of being unprepared are so great that the precautionary measures are justified. This aligns with the asymmetry of risk, as described in the context of catastrophic threats: the downside of not preparing is far greater than the cost of being over-prepared.