Goo--was Nuke etc.

From: john marlow (johnmarlow@gmx.net)
Date: Tue Jan 09 2001 - 22:29:33 MST


"For there is no secret and there is no defense; there is no possibility of
control except through the aroused understanding and insistence of the
peoples of the world. We scientists recognise our inescapable responsibility to
carry to our fellow citizens an understanding of atomic energy and its
implication for society. In this lies our only security and our only hope - we
believe that an informed citizenry will act for life and not for death.
---Albert Einstein, 1947"

--john marlow

--
Eliezer S. Yudkowsky wrote:
??
John Marlow wrote:
 >
 > Already have; taking a lesson from Albert E.
--
Eliezer S. Yudkowsky wrote:
John Marlow wrote:
 >
 > I'd love to see similar calculations regarding the goo
 > situation.
If it happens, we're screwed.  Accept this, and decide what you're
going
to do about it.
--
John Marlow wrote:
Sure, accidents may be containable. Most probably
would be, no question. That's not my problem. My
problem is that there is a potential here--never
before seen--for a SELF-REPLICATING accident (or psychotic incident)the
consequences of which expand exponentially and which
cannot be halted. Somewhat analogous to Teller's
side-bets on Trinity igniting the atmosphere in a
globe-spanning chain reaction. Meticulous calculations
showed that to be very, very, very unlikely, if not
impossible.
I'd love to see similar calculations regarding the goo
situation.
I really would.
      ?
--
The strength to change what I can, the inability to accept what I
can't, and the incapacity the tell the difference. --Calvin
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