From: Technotranscendence (neptune@mars.superlink.net)
Date: Thu Nov 15 2001 - 09:01:31 MST
On Thursday, November 15, 2001 9:29 AM Anders Sandberg asa@nada.kth.se
wrote:
>> Yes, if we intend to shuttle back and forth between human and transhuman,
or
>> if we plan to return to human stasis after transcending it, then we need
to
>> dwell on strictly human issues. If, instead, we commit to a phase
transition
>> in which no regression occurs, then we need to focus on transhuman
issues, and
>> especially on how to leave entirely human ones.
>
> This is unfortunately a rather common attitude among
> transhumanists, and I seriously consider it *the* most hindering
> factor if we want transhumanism to ever become more than idle
> chatting on mailing lists.
I partly agree. Why partly? I think some of the transitions will happen
regardless of what transhumanists and Extropians do, think, or chat about
online.
> Imagine if NASA had approached space in the same way: "Since
> satelites are not supposed to come down again, we will not have to
> deal with aerodynamics. Instead we will aim for a phase transition
> where the satelites suddenly appear in orbit and stay there. How
> we are going to achieve that? Well... we're going to come up with
> something, I'm sure."
Good comeback!
> Do you have any practical ideas for how to bring about such a
> phase transition? If not, why are you complaining that others are
> looking at the "aerodynamics" of culture?
I'd not only say that, BUT I'd like to maintain options too. (Granted, any
change is probably going to open new ones AND close some old ones, but all
things being equal I'd like to have to not paint myself into a corner.
There's probably going to be many different types of posthumanism anyhow.)
Cheers!
Daniel Ust
http://uweb.superlink.net/neptune/
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