Mark Walker wrote:
> From: Dan Clemmensen <dgc@cox.rr.com>
>>Sorry, but I respectfully and completely disagree. Our current concept
>>of the singularity is grounded in science, not philosophy. It is a
>>simple forward extrapolation of well-understood phenomena.
>>
>>
> Since we disagree completely (but respectfully) let us take this in stages.
> Let's work on the concept of transhumanism first, and then worry about the
> connection (if any) with a singularity. The understanding I offered above of
> transhumanism has a teleological and an ethical component. Perhaps we
> disagree on this. Your post emphasizes the predictive nature of science.
> Perhaps your understanding of transhumanism is similar to Robin Hansons:
>
> "Transhumanism is the idea that new technologies are likely to change the
> world so much in the next century or two that our descendants will in many
> ways no longer be "human." "
>
> (This quote is from Ander's site). This definition seems more in line with
> your comments than the one I offered. For myself, I not sure how
> enlightening it is to concentrate simply on the likelihood of various future
> histories.
Yes, my perspective tracks Ander's and Robin's, except that I think the
time scale is much shorter. I take a technological singularity in the
(historically) very near future as a given, and I don't think human
ethics have any relevance after the singularity. When I first
encountered the concept of the singularity, I speculated a lot
about the transhumanity that would result. I now firmly believe that
such speculation is unproductive, analogous to speculation on
life in heaven or hell. I'm interested only in the events leading
up to the singularity, and actions we humans can take to mitigate any
problems in this, the last period of human history while accelerating
the singularity. I am not really a "transhumanist." I'm a human who
believes the singularity is inevitable and probably "good." You will
need to find someone else to discuss and debate the ethics of
transhumanity with you. Enjoy.
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