At 2:08 PM -0800 1/6/98, Robin Hanson wrote:
>The sad fact is that most technical "polymaths" know next to nothing
>about technical social science. You can talk with them about
>number theory, complexity theory, astronomy, particle physics,
>electronics, natural selection, viruses, computer languages, traffic
>routing, war machines, space travel, etc. But beyond simple supply
>and demand reasoning and some awareness of the prisoner's dilemna,
>they just don't know much about technical social science.
Well, I think the whole idea of calling the members of this list
"polymaths" is a stretch.
>From what I can see, we're just the Usual Bunch of Science Folks.
Most of what is being discussed here, so far, is what "Analog" and
"Scientific American" and such cover, with a dollop of stuff from SF novels.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: the invite list seems
drastically overweighted in favor of "Extropians" and ex-Extropians. Is it
any surprise that the major topics which generate interest are living
forever, colonizing all space, living forever, building Jupiter-sized
brains, ascension, and living forever?
Polymath, n., One interested in all aspects of boundless expansion,
ascension, and living forever.
--Tim May
The Feds have shown their hand: they want a ban on domestic cryptography
---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:----
Timothy C. May | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money,
ComSec 3DES: 408-728-0152 | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero
W.A.S.T.E.: Corralitos, CA | knowledge, reputations, information markets,
Higher Power: 2^2,976,221 | black markets, collapse of governments.
"National borders aren't even speed bumps on the information superhighway."
Received on Wed Jan 7 00:59:20 1998
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