Re: Frontierism..

Hagbard Celine (hagbard@ix.netcom.com)
Fri, 25 Jul 1997 17:39:53 -0400


Nigel Jacob wrote:

> I am curious as to whether or not
> any of you think that extropianism can succeed as a movement within the
> confines of a society without an accessable Frontier.

What is a frontier but an unexplored and uncharted area? I think to
limit your hypothesis to the *physical* frontier is avoiding the
problematizing fact that *everything* that is currently unknown yields
for humanity a frontier. The human brain is a frontier, the atom is a
frontier, the universe is a frontier. Indeed death itself is a frontier.
All these are unexplored and uncharted -- and all either are or will be
accessible in the (near) future.

Another thought just occurred to me. In light of the frontiers I just
mentioned, what is it about these frontiers that spurs evolution? A part
of it might be the necessity of overcoming obstacles heretofore unknown.
This pushes the envelope of ingenuity and creativity, and therefore, the
ability of those doing the exploring. Another tool in the toolchest,
so-to-speak.