From: Doctor Logic (doctor_logic@hotmail.com)
Date: Tue May 21 2002 - 18:53:03 MDT
[quote from: Natasha on 2002-05-21 at 10:34:24]
s. wrote:
>... but what has infanticide to do with extropy?
This is the most consequent point made so far on this thread. Thank you.
Here's what I think we can extract from this 'conversation' in regards to
Extropy.
There are approximately two camps here. The first knows that we are just
starstuff and is crudely attempting to compute the net worth of a person
based
on raw materials, training cost and information processing power.
The second camp, accustomed to the values of Western society, is perhaps
looking for a way to justify common principles of human rights in more
rigorous scientific terms.
I would say that circa 2002, the two starting points actually meet in a
place
not unlike today's social center.
Take the lifeboat example brought up earlier. The actions of the captain
need
to be taken in the context of society as a whole. For example, a full-time
mother and housewife is trading independence and devotion to raising
children
in exchange for protection provided by husbands and other authority figures.
(There are probably a bunch of interesting examples like this). This is
true
from an evolutionary point of view, and is now built-in to the social
fabric.
If the ship contains the last survivors of the human race, and humanity's
survival deep into the future is the main objective, then "women and
children
first" is the wrong logical conclusion. ;)
If the the survivors are to be reintegrated into society (or if society is
to
hear of the events at all), there's a cost to breaking the social contract
that will probably exceed the value you may be saving by choosing on the
basis
of intellect etc.
Assuming the society is very large, I think the value of the social contract
far exceeds the individual skills of the ships passengers and crew.
I think Extropians understand that we are just biomachines. Heuristics tell
us that science and logic are all we can rely on. I agree. It's just that
to
get to logical conclusions, we need to evaluate the emergent properties of
the
whole system.
How does this relate to Extropy?
When we merge with technological computing machinery, the social contracts
we made may no longer be necessary or applicable. There will be no need to
terminate intelligent life anymore. Intellectual development time will be
much shorter (though our faster perception may make it seem longer).
Finally,
we may not need to have children at all.
I think that for political reasons, it's important for extropians to be
aware
of this. Opponents of extropy will seize on such simplistic measures of
human
value as strong arguments for limiting human evolution.
One last thought. Though my arguments favor more traditional human rights
in today's environment, I can't see more than one superintelligence ruling
the planet in the future. It's too risky. When future enhanced
extro-humans
have the mental and physical ability to make H-bombs in their back yards,
having more than one of us around sounds too risky. I don't think that
mutual assured destruction is a good deterrent when every Tom, Dick and
Harry
has nukes. As soon as one superintelligence gets far enough ahead, it will
swallow all others (in a benevolent way, of course) to protect the survival
of
life on this planet.
---- This message was posted by Doctor Logic to the Extropians 2002 board on ExI BBS. <http://www.extropy.org/bbs/index.php?board=61;action=display;threadid=51745 >
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