From: Stan Kretler (skretler@infinitefaculty.com)
Date: Wed Sep 01 1999 - 13:00:53 MDT
From: "Eliezer S. Yudkowsky" <sentience@pobox.com>
: Anders Sandberg wrote:
: >
: > Actually, we probably need more good studies of pros and cons of
: > transhumanists ideas put on the web, to show that we are actually
: > looking seriously at these issues. Otherwise people will get the
wrong
: > impression and think we are just naive technophiles.
:
: Frankly, I think a fairly large percentage of you *are* naive
: technophiles. You think you can take controlled sips from a tidal
wave.
I just joined this list recently, but I do not see a lot of what I would
I call "naive technophiles". I do see a lot of technophiles, and a lot
of naivete, but the naivete seems to be about the philosophical
undergirding of transhumanism, not about the technology. Taking
"controlled sips from a tidal wave" seems easy enough. Technology can do
anything. But thought about * why* taking a controlled sip from a tidal
wave is a worthwhile goal seems to be absent from this list.
Seems important to think about these things. Is anyone here worried
about slipping into a psychosis of nihilism once their IQs are high
enough that they realize that their goals have no philosophical
foundation (or *might* have no foundation)?
Worrying about grey goo seems less important (and less interesting) than
worrying about 400 IQ nihilists with a *lot* of technological power.
If this is an old topic, perhaps someone could point me to a place where
it has already been discussed.
Cheers,
Stan
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