Hugo Alves? wrote:
I would be very happy if someone could prove me wrong, or explain this in
another way, or do something to make this notion of
happiness-as-a-mere-chemical go away. But it seems that people are treating
the most delicate cases of unhapiness (the suicidal) with this notion of
chemical disorder, which, I must say, doesn't look that much encouraging...
I'm asking you to look at this as the transhumanists you strive to be, and
not as the humane people you might be.
--I guess the >H position would be that - we want to be able to control emotions (we are control freaks), and using drugs is just fine for that (although the inelegance of most examples is irksome) - Killing oneself is not a Transhuman ideal, except perhaps if you've lived 10K+ years and are getting bored. Keeping people alive through what is likely a transitory phase is a Good Thing (tm). - Humans are mere chemicals. I'm made of mere chemicals, which in turn are just boring old atoms, and those in turn quarks (oh the banality). - Happiness is not the supreme state for extropians, in particular. I would expect that (unattainable) fulfillment is. None of the extropian principles would require happiness; in many cases, the drive required to reach them comes from massive discontent coupled with optimism; not happiness. Realising one's dreams could involve the full range of "negative" emotions, and potentially end in great sadness. Happiness is cows in green pastures, and we like to think that we are not they.
Emlyn James O'Regan - Managing Director Wizards of AU http://www.WizardsOfAU.com emlyn@WizardsOfAU.com "Australian IT Wizards - US Technology Leaders Pure International Teleworking in the Global Economy"
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Mon May 28 2001 - 09:59:43 MDT