Do you have the full paper completed?
Thom
Max More wrote:
> At 03:30 PM 1/14/99 -0800, Robin wrote:
> >
> >The related thing that most strikes me is the unfortunate
> >lack of paper-length contributions on the topics which
> >frequently appear on this list.
>
> Good points, Robin. And, if you don't mind, I'll take that as a cue for
> this...
>
> I recently completed a draft of a paper that I'm going to send to philosophy
> journals. I want to get it off ASAP, but I'd appreciate feedback before doing
> so. The topic is definitely of extropian interest (see abstract below). I
> would
> prefer offer to read from those list members who are familiar with the
> style of
> philosophy journal articles (or academic articles in any subject area).
>
> Please let me know if you would like to see a copy of my draft.
>
> Here's the abstract:
>
> ----------------------------------------------------
> TESTING THE SPECIES CONCEPT:
> Technology's Impact on the Evolutionary Classification of Humanity's
> Descendents
>
> Max More, Ph.D.
> max@maxmore.com
>
> Abstract
> The species concept is central to modern evolutionary biology. Most biologists
> and philosophers of biology have decisively settled on the particular concept
> of a species as a protected gene pool. While borderline cases do arise in
> applying the concept, mostly it has worked well for the biological world up
> until now. This paper examines how well the biological species concept can
> handle some possible future developments among Homo sapiens. These changes,
> being driven by the interface of biology and technology, raise boundary
> problems unprecedented in evolutionary history. I argue that the current
> species concept can handle some of these possibilities, but runs into serious
> difficulties in classifying the results of imaginable technological
> modifications of the human species. The paper suggests a range of responses to
> extend or supplement the protected gene pool species concept.
> ----------------------------------------------------
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Max More, Ph.D.
> <max@maxmore.com> or <more@extropy.org>
>
> http://www.maxmore.com
> Philosophical issues of technology
> President, Extropy Institute:
> exi-info@extropy.org, http://www.extropy.org
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------