Re: "Sound and Fury" over enhancements

From: hal@finney.org
Date: Thu Jan 10 2002 - 12:52:32 MST


Brian Williams writes:

> I took your invitation at face value, and pointed out that my
> (theoretical) children were certainly entitled to their own
> beliefs/politics, and it was essentially none of my business.

Actually you said,

: Then clearly the intelligence enhancement was a failure, give Greg
: Burch or one of his associates a call.

and

: Like I said if he goes in for intelligence enhancement and comes
: out socialist, sue the doctor.

So it seems that you reject the premise of the thought experiment.
You think it is impossible that a more intelligent person could be
a socialist.

> But you also were making a claim, which you even tried to defend,
> the notion that the smarter you are the more likely you are to
> believe in socialism.

Actually I said,

: It's not implausible: in
: fact in many of the most difficult and esoteric branches of science and
: mathematics, branches which require the highest levels of sheer abstract
: intelligence to thrive, Socialism and allied political philosophies
: are widespread.

I said that the thought experiment was "not implausible", in an attempt
to forestall the very objection that you raised, which was that it was
impossible. I am certainly not saying what you attribute to me, "that
the smarter you are the more likely you are to believe in socialism."
I was just trying to get past your knee jerk reaction in order to get
you to take the thought experiment seriously.

Obviously I failed. Your ideology has successfully defended itself by
keeping you from seriously considering alternatives. I congratulate it.
It rides you masterfully. I hope the bit is comfortable in your mouth.

Hal



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