From: J. R. Molloy (jr@shasta.com)
Date: Wed Oct 17 2001 - 09:03:01 MDT
> "I don't think the human race will survive the next thousand years unless we
> spread into space. There are too many accidents that can befall life on a
> single planet," Hawking told Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper.
Long before "the next thousand years" transhumans will (with luck) have
replaced humans. So, in that respect, humans are doomed for a good cause
(speciation). Why put apes in space instead of transhumans? For that matter,
if transhumans emerge in our lifetime, we may come to learn of compelling
reasons not to go into space at all.
> "I am an optimist. We will reach out to the stars," he said.
I'm more optimistic.
We will metamorphose into beings beyond desire, and the stars will fill us
with light.
--- --- --- --- ---
Useless hypotheses, etc.:
consciousness, phlogiston, philosophy, vitalism, mind, free will, qualia,
analog computing, cultural relativism, GAC, Cyc, Eliza, cryonics, individual
uniqueness, ego, human values, scientific relinquishment
We move into a better future in proportion as science displaces superstition.
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