From: Zero Powers (zero_powers@hotmail.com)
Date: Tue Apr 09 2002 - 23:23:11 MDT
>From: Rüdiger Koch <rkoch@rkoch.org>
>Could the Singularity happen as a paranoid arms race of augmentation
>devices
>where everybody tries to stay on top of the development because all those
>who
>fall back will not perform well enough to make enough money or so to get
>into
>the lext level? And whoever falls back too much will simply be trampled
>down?
I don't know that I'd describe it as an "arms race" but, without doubt, if
you don't keep up you will get left behind. I already see it happening.
There are people in my profession (heck, even in my own office) who are
technophobes. I, on the other hand, copiously incorporate technology into
my practice and, as a result, I am *much* more efficient than my techophobic
colleagues.
I think it only makes sense to have a working knowlege of existing
technology and a basic understanding of technological trends. If nothing
else having such an understanding (and particularly having in advance
thought through the potential pros and cons of adopting a given "advanced"
technology) will make one more willing and able to be an early adopter,
while others delay trying to figure out, say, whether or not being a
disembodied uploaded intelligence is a good thing.
I wouldn't go so far as to say "be among the first or get left behind." In
fact I tend to believe that the more people are included the better it will
be for all. Try as I might I can't imagine post-Singularity life as a zero
sum game. But regardless, the better informed you are, and the more
resources at your disposal (financial, informational, technological, etc.)
the better off you'll be. These principles seem to be at the heart of the
"racist" site which prompted this thread. To that extent I can only say I
agree with them.
-Zero
"I'm a seeker too. But my dreams aren't like yours. I can't help thinking
that somewhere in the universe there has to be something better than man.
Has to be." -- George Taylor _Planet of the Apes_ (1968)
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