Re: Self-replicating factories [was Re: Our rocky solar system may be rare]

From: Robin Hanson (rhanson@gmu.edu)
Date: Mon Sep 13 1999 - 08:10:21 MDT


Hal F. responded to Robert J.B.:
> > The main point I was trying to make was to counter Robin's statement that
> > we don't know if we can do hard nanotechnology. Robin is correct in that
> > there is no "evidence proof" as there is with wet(bio)-nanotechnology.
> > However, molecular assembly per se *is* not nessessary for a Dyson Shell
> > full of computronium in a short time.
>
>I think Robin was trying to close any loopholes in his argument about
>filters, by suggesting that it is likely that any technologically advanced
>civilization would be able to do megascale engineering. ...

Yes, Hal has summarized my intention well, perhaps better than I did.

Robin Hanson rhanson@gmu.edu http://hanson.gmu.edu
Asst. Prof. Economics, George Mason University
MSN 1D3, Carow Hall, Fairfax VA 22030
703-993-2326 FAX: 703-993-2323



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