>H RE: Present dangers to transhumanism

k_aegis@mindspring.com
Mon, 30 Aug 1999 09:47:08 -0700

den otter writes:
>Until we fully acknowledge the "darker" side of progress,
>instead of giving it the occasional lip service, and become

>motivated by 50% hope and 50% fear, transhumanism
>won't reach maturity and [thus] its full potential.

It seems that we have been having that debate for quite awhile now. It's been going something like this:

ANDERS, in lilting tones: There is this wonderful new proposed technology, [insert name of technology]. With this new technology, we could make our brains bigger and think more thoughts. We could cure disease. We could upload! See, I have some calculations.

NICK, with steady gaze: This new proposed technology can be used to blow up the planet. It can melt your brain. See, I have calculations.

KATHRYN: You both have good points here. I'd like to see a working prototype! Does this thing really work? Let's do science, not science fiction....

ANDERS: The really stubborn people come from Nick's part of Sweden.

NICK: Let's write a paper.

Kathryn Aegis



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