From: Tom McCabe (rocketjet314@yahoo.com)
Date: Sun Aug 19 2007 - 22:35:33 MDT
--- Samantha Atkins <sjatkins@gmail.com> wrote:
> On 8/15/07, Tom McCabe <rocketjet314@yahoo.com>
> wrote:
> >
> >
> > First of all, a recession does not qualify as a
> > dystopia. We've been through much worse, even in
> the
> > past hundred years. The "rise of Islam" in Europe
> is a
> > non-issue.
>
>
> A sufficient economic collapse can well qualify as a
> dystopia especially in
> its aftermath of conflict at home and abroad. The
> danger from Peak Oil are
> in my opinion the most pernicious at this time. One
> day soon the world at
> large will realize its energy supply is in much more
> perilous shape than it
> has been led to believe. Many of the US recent
> actions around the world
> make little sense unless you assume Peak Oil is real
> and that much of the
> leadership knows it. The Energy Wars that will
> likely result will be quite
> dangerous for all our dreams.
Or beneficial. One effect of a decrease in the global
energy supply is to contract the world economy; this
will slow down the development of things like
molecular manufacturing, superviruses and other
potential existential risks.
>
> Secondly, the general public's attitude is currently
> a
> > non-issue. The vast majority of people are
> > scientifically illiterate, and probably would not
> > understand the implications surrounding the
> > Singularity, even if you explained it to them in
> great
> > detail.
>
>
>
> That the general publy is scientifically illiterate
> was not such good news
> for stem cell research. If we are lucky AGI will
> not enter the public and
> political consciousness before it is too late.
I am wondering what SIAI's contingency plan is in the
event AGI research is outlawed in the US. Sure, it
would slow everyone else down, but if you get slowed
down at the same rate, you've made zero net progress.
> If the world becomes sufficiently inflamed I doubt
> very much that we are
> going to manage to save it all by somehow creating a
> massively FAI as we
> burn. A certain minimum amount of stability and
> freedom is essential.
>
>
> - samantha
>
- Tom
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