From: Michael LaTorra (mike99@lascruces.com)
Date: Sun Sep 24 2000 - 19:49:07 MDT
Skipping past the earlier part of this thread, I'll just quote salient parts
of Emlyn's recent reply in which he argues against any notion of
Transhumanist godhood and for:
>Promot[-ing] a culture of trust of each other, of individual humility
combined
>with a belief in the ability of humanity to rise above all challenges.
>Promote rationality/rational thinking. Promote self reliance, and encourage
>self confidence in all people. Don't crap on other people.
=> I can certainly accept the desirability of that. However, I have noticed
that the brightest and most talented people I know tend to be anything but
humble. Unlike mediocrities (maybe including me!) about whom it can be said
"He has much to be humble about" these folks really have achieved much to be
proud of. I don't know how to make them become humble. Do you?
>Humility is mostly about remembering that there is a slim chance that, just
>maybe, you might be the person who is wrong after all. Or maybe there are
>elements of truth on all sides. Or maybe everyone is entirely off the mark.
=> Right. But the lone genius who swims against the tide might also be right
while everyone going with the flow is wrong. The only way such a maverick
can maintain his or her strength of will in such circumstances is to have an
unshakable confidence, even arrogance. There is no way to know in advance
whether such a person is right or wrong. Many have been wrong. But the ones
who were right have made disproportionately great contributions to the sum
total of human knowledge and well-being. Should we elevate humility over
genius?
>Godhood, on the other hand, means never having to say you're sorry.
=> As does genius. Go figure!
>However, I am unconvinced of the benefits of (following/striving
>for/assuming the status of) gods in the future. The path we are taking is
>decidedly secular; our technologies are not divine gifts, they are strictly
>human creations. There is no sign that this will change any time soon (or
>any time at all!).
>
>Striving for excellence is excellent. Where's the room for
>spirituality/mysticism/religosity? Why do we need it? Does it benefit us to
>add it? What price do we pay?
=> Those very secular technologies may result in godhood being thrust upon
us. Consider an extension of Clarke's Law ("Any sufficiently advanced
technology is indistinguishable from magic") to cover the situation
described in Vernor Vinge's fictional universe where some intelligent
species Transcend their former state and become Powers with, yes, god-like
power. Let the new Law state "Any sufficiently advanced species is
indistinguishable from gods."
So it's not a matter of willfully imposing or importing religious ideas,
but rather of discovering that they best correspond to the situation we will
have brought about by our own human actions. And really, a god is only a god
in front of the neighbors. Within the family of gods, everyone knows that he
puts his galaxies on one leg at a time, just like everyone else.
Regards,
Michael LaTorra
mike99@lascruces.com
mlatorra@excite.com
3229 Risner Street
Las Cruces, NM 88011-4823
USA
505.522.5121
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