From: Amara Graps (Amara.Graps@mpi-hd.mpg.de)
Date: Wed Apr 17 2002 - 05:13:36 MDT
Technotranscendence wrote, Apr 16, 2002 07:05 pm:
>However, it would probably be best, given the level of emotion (from
>me too) if we focused on the examples Harvey uses. Also, I doubt after
>about 2300 years of arguing over what's the right way to organize
>society, we're going to persuade each other any of us has the
>solutions here. (Let's wait for the Signularity, right?:)
Giving up ? :-)
I'm not giving up on looking at the ways that societies and cultures
live and work together, and I think that it is the largest problem
that faces humankind on this planet today, if humans are going to
survive to any 'transhuman' state. Our own extropian microcosm is a
perfect example that we have the same kinds of problems here. How can
we expect to travel to and live outside of this planet if we cannot
find how to live on Earth with other humans, and how to discuss these
kinds of issues, even in our own extropian community?
In my opinion, the solutions *do* exist for how to accomplish this
feat, if only we open our eyes, listen, experience, pay attention,
and educate ourselves, hopefully without the extra baggage of ignorant
prejudices (some compassion would help too). History has provided us
with many pieces of the puzzle: We know many ways of working and
living together with other humans that *don't work*, as well as many
that *do* work. So then, use that information. In this era, we have
the best chance to take positive actions because we have an abundance
of present and past information, more accessible than ever before. So
I say: Use it! Learn. Try. Our humankind's survival depends on it.
Amara
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Amara Graps, PhD | Max-Planck-Institut fuer Kernphysik
Heidelberg Cosmic Dust Group | Saupfercheckweg 1
+49-6221-516-543 | 69117 Heidelberg, GERMANY
Amara.Graps@mpi-hd.mpg.de * http://www.mpi-hd.mpg.de/dustgroup/~graps
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"Never fight an inanimate object." - P. J. O'Rourke
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