Re: Goals

jonwill (jonwill@erols.com)
Mon, 17 May 1999 11:39:47 -0400

Anders Sandberg wrote:

> jonwill <jonwill@erols.com> writes:
>
> > While no two humans are exactly the same, we are all of one race,
> > the human race, and we all share the experience of life in an
> > essentially identical carbon based life form structure. We all work
> > for continuing survival while in this structure, and hope for a
> > happy, safe, and good life for ourselves and loved ones. Therefore,
> > everyone has a common desire for the best life attainable. Since
> > visions of the best life attainable are as numerous as the number of
> > people, the only universally acceptable definition would be, "the
> > ability of each person to live as they desire". Humans could
> > voluntarily coordinate their efforts to obtain that ability.
>
> The problem here is that "the best life attainable" is something
> people disagree on, both due to different views on what it is

What person does not want the ability to live as they desire?

> and how it can be achieved.

With a state of being that fulfills both sides of human duality (every human consists of both a tangible physical existence and an intangible mental existence).

Through some combination of machines, robots, computers, and/or other technologies, humanity will have the ability to provide for all tangible physical needs and desires. Nanotechnology is one such promising technology. Molecular assemblers, microscopic machines, would build molecules by putting atoms together. Just give this machine any type of matter, such as water, and it can rearrange the atoms to make anything else, such as an apple, or gold. These nanomachines can even make copies of themselves, so that once one is built, Humanity can have all the nanomachines it wants. Every home could have a machine, consisting of a very large quantity of these microscopic nanomachines, to provide for all material needs. For example, if you want a glass of orange juice simply tell the machine and it can use water from a water line connection to make a glass filled with orange juice. When you are finished drinking the juice, just put the glass in the machine, and the machine will turn the glass back into clean water and send the water down the drain. People will never have to shop again. New clothes, caviar, lobster, no problem, just tell the machine to make whatever is wanted. These nanomachines will build miniature super-computers, and robots of any desired size. People will not have to work because these robots, computers and machines, will be able to perform any task that needs to be done, or is desired to be done. However, if one desires to work, these production methods can be used to create any work environment one desires. Material poverty will be eliminated. Money, a medium of exchange for material goods and services, will become obsolete, because every individual can have all of their material needs and desires fulfilled by this unlimited production capability. Taxes are no longer necessary. Nanomachines can patrol the human body killing viruses, deleting any cancerous growths, and regenerating damaged cells so that one never ages or gets sick. Pollution will not result from this molecular manufacturing process, and these nanomachines can be unleashed to clean up any preexisting pollution. There is no need to harvest trees, or other natural resources, because nanomachines can make anything desired. Animals will not have to be raised for slaughter to feed humans or provide clothes, because nanomachines can make anything desired. This unlimited production system just needs matter and energy to function These machines can make solar panels and energy storage devices so efficient that the energy from the sun will be the only power ever needed. The only other thing needed to run the machines is some type of matter, which can be air, water, dirt, or anything else that is plentiful. Fantastic engineering feats are possible, such as see-through domes over cities to eliminate weather concerns, and an extensive water piping system to eliminate drought and floods. Extraordinary amusement parks and entertainment centers could be built with this technology. Space exploration and colonization would be easily feasible with this technology. Etc.

Through some method or combination of methods, Humanity will have the ability to provide for all intangible mental needs and desires. Humanity will develop methods to control and regulate feelings and emotions, increase intelligence, and eliminate mental illness. People will have a mental heaven through mind-shaping. People will have healthy minds free from any mental agony such as depression, because all mental illness will be cured. Humans will discover how to access and unleash the full capabilities and power of the brain, and thereby reach levels of intelligence and thought that takes the essence of being to an unimaginably complete state of existence. Humanity will be able to achieve control of the brain so one can elect to have any feeling or emotion desired, or elect to avoid any feeling or emotion. One will be able to have pure thought unaffected by feelings or emotions, and unrestrained by sensory or other limitations. Such mind-shaping methods may involve the use of chemicals and/or genetic engineering to enhance the pleasure pathways of the brain, and block negative feedback pathways. This would result is a perpetual state of happiness, pleasure, and joy. Boredom, anger and other negative feelings and emotions will no longer plague man. People will be happy about being in a state of happiness, a perpetual love of everything. Humanity will develop sensory devices to enhance mental abilities, and virtual reality systems for unlimited mental experiences. Each individual will have the capability to completely control their thoughts, and thereby be the god of their own universe, the king of their mental sphere of existence.

> This is part of it. Knowledge gives us the base to act from, but we
> need to be able to interface our various views well too. Knowledge can
> help here too, but in the end I think we will find some irreducible
> differences in value.

Why do people with different values have to interface? Instead of standard rules for all places, humans could establish different rules for different places so that each person can be in the type of place where there are rules of conduct and behavior that suits their preference. The amount of technology one wants in their life is purely a personal choice, and there should be technology free zones for those who do not want technology in their lives. With the right knowledge we can find ways for each person to live as they desire.

> > Humanity has achieved proficient methods for
> > dissemination of information and simply needs to better utilize the
> > same in order to facilitate the use of knowledge. Yet, less than 2%
> > of global productivity is devoted toward finding new knowledge
> > (research and development). Clearly Humanity could and should be
> > investing more in its future.
>
> Definitely. But I wonder if we really have achived efficient methods
> of disseminating information and teaching knowledge.

I said "proficient methods for dissemination". Computers offer an efficient and economical way to store information, and the Internet provides a method for fast and easy access to information. These methods are not being fully utilized. I believe teaching can be made more efficient

Cheers,
Jon
http://www.erols.com/jonwill/