From: Dan Clemmensen (Dan@Clemmensen.ShireNet.com)
Date: Sun Aug 17 1997 - 07:03:15 MDT
Eugene Leitl wrote:
>
> I notice a tendency to tear off exploring wild possibilities on this list
> recently. (Extro 3 talks risen to the head?).
>
> This is only okay if we do not longer hold by the basic tenets of science.
> Future may be wild, but when talking of astro- and spacetime engineering
> we are clearly discussing Postsingularity events, which are by definition
> unpredictable, i.e. a waste of time.
>
I find such speculation to be intellectually stimulating,
and at least as relevant as (say) the future of gender.
In fact, I feel that most of what we discuss relates
to Postsingularity events, and is therefore idle speculation.
At least when discussing physics, I try to identify ideas that
require "new physics" from ideas that do not, and I remain
deeply sceptical of ideas that contravene existing physics.
Unfortunately, it's difficult or impossible for me to apply
the same approach to speculations in the areas of sociology,
economics, or other "softer" sciences, since I cannot determine
which parts of the existing body of knowledge in these areas
will remain valid.
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