Goo prophylaxis:consensus

From: Nicholas Bostrom (bostrom@mail.ndirect.co.uk)
Date: Wed Sep 03 1997 - 08:33:25 MDT


Our discussion about the strategic situation after and during the
development of nanotechnology has gone on for a while, and there is
still disagreement on several issus. But perhaps we reached a near
consensus on the following non-trivial points?

1. Provided that technological research continues, nanotechnology will
eventually be developed.

2. An immune system wouldn't work unless it was global.

3. In the absence of a global immune system, if everybody could make
their own nanotech machines then all life on earth would soon become
extinct.

4. In the absence of ethical motives, the benefits would outweigh the
costs for a nanotech power that chose to eliminate the competition or
prevent it from arising, provided it had the ability to do so.

Nicholas Bostrom
http://www.hedweb.com/nickb



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