From: Anders Sandberg (asa@nada.kth.se)
Date: Mon Jan 18 1999 - 16:31:29 MST
"Eliezer S. Yudkowsky" <sentience@pobox.com> writes:
> 1) I think that negative mental states invoke a higher order of
> intelligence than positive mental states; consider the evolutionary context.
Actually, the evolutionary context suggests *different* kinds of
intelligence for positive and negative mental states, the problems to
be solved are different. And it is worth noting that among primates
and especially humans the problems of communication and social
interaction appears to have been especially important, given the
evolution of these parts of the brain - and these aspects of
intelligence are enhanced by positive mental states.
> 2) Problems *should* dominate our thinking. First, worry about
> survival/Singularity. Then, worry about creating the Culture.
If we turn into humorless nanosurvivalists while preparing for the
Singularity, we might never reach the Culture even if we survive.
We should apply our intelligence to both solve problems and find new
possibilities. Transhumanism began as the realization that there was
possible ways out of the human condition, not as some effort to
"solve" it. Being aware of risks does not preclude being aware of
possibilities, and a sane person can balance both.
-- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Anders Sandberg Towards Ascension! asa@nada.kth.se http://www.nada.kth.se/~asa/ GCS/M/S/O d++ -p+ c++++ !l u+ e++ m++ s+/+ n--- h+/* f+ g+ w++ t+ r+ !y
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