Anders Sandberg wrote:
> Perhaps the cases could be strengthened by
> showing the evidence that existed in the time
> the original claim already pointed in that
> direction. Birds showed that heavier-than-air
> flight was possible etc. The moral outrages are
> especially revealing since they show how far we
> have come and can make people think about their
> own views: are they any less silly and
> conservative.
Drexler puts this technique to good use in Engines of Creation. The first couple of chapters outline natural parallels to his ideas (the T-virus, how blood cell move, how muscles work, etc). I think this is by far one of the easiest ways of introducing a new concept.
BM