On Tue, 8 Feb 2000, Dan Fabulich wrote:
>
> Do any of you have suggestions re: what questions I should ask him, or
> what approach you think would be optimal to a) make this an interesting
> interview and b) spread the word a little re: transhumanism?
>
If you can get him to accept the premise of uploading, then the
entire question of whether an SI can ethically turn-off or delete
a sub-SI (i.e. a conscious being but one with a sentience quotient
of thousands to billions times lower). This is the debate that
Greg and I have chased around the hill in the past without much
progress (IMO). If he doesn't understand the concept of sentience
quotient, simply explain it as the "organized information" per quantity
of matter (in some respects, the quantity of negentropy).
Another fascinating question is whether you remove most of the "stigma"
and/or questionable ethics associated with an abortion if you can
do a full-genome genotype (i.e. determine rigorously and completely
the "information content" of the potential individual). That information
would allow you to reconstruct the individual at some point in the future
(after sufficient technology advances) should you have a reason for
doing so.
You might want to ask the second question before the first (just to
get him used to the idea that its the "destruction" of information
that might be "unethical" or "immoral").
Robert
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