From: Spike Jones (spike66@attglobal.net)
Date: Sun Dec 23 2001 - 18:26:00 MST
"Eliezer S. Yudkowsky" wrote:
> Well, that's what it's really about. I think it'd be nice if everyone who
> agrees with this reasoning posts a "Me too!", and everyone who disagrees
> with the argument but agrees with the conclusion posts a note saying that
> as well. Eliezer S. Yudkowsky http://singinst.org/
>
>
I think probably everyone would agree that we want a colorblind
world. But wanting that doesn't get us there, by itself.
A few days ago, Damien made a comment about the hippies'
desire to decree away jealousy, free love for all, etc. But that
did not make it go away. Today no one even pretends we know
how, as a society, to do away with jealously.
We find in ourselves many examples of socialization that are
no longer useful, yet many of us find it difficult or impossible
to simply turn them off. We seem to have been hard wired.
We want a world of peace. Wanting it doesn't get us there.
"Last night I had the strangest dream Id ever dreamed before,
I dreamed the world had all agreed to put an end to war.
I dreamed I saw a mighty room, the room was filled with men,
the paper they were signing said they'd never fight again."
But we did fight again. Good chance we will fight again.
We want a world free of racism. But how do we get to the
perspective of species-wide unity? Just by thinking about
transhumanity, uploading AI and the singularity? Is that really
all we need? Are there any wetware changes, physical
modifications we need to do? Are we not hardwired to
compete? To fight? To favor those who are more genetically
similar to ourselves? To be jealous of others' amorous attention
to our mates? Can we really decree all this away, just be wanting to?
I hope so. But I may be a bit less optimistic that you are,
Eliezer. Thought provoking post, tho, thanks! {8-] spike
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