"Enlightenment" singularity

From: J. R. Molloy (jr@shasta.com)
Date: Fri Dec 15 2000 - 21:18:41 MST


From: "Anders Sandberg" <asa@nada.kth.se>
> Maybe biotechnology leads to a very different society with
> goals that instead create some other kind of singularity than the one
> we are usually talking about? I don't know what it could be or if it
> is likely, but we should avoid becoming technological determinists.

While perusing Edelman's "Bright Air" I noticed this:
"We may well hope that if sufficiently general ideas synthesizing the
discoveries that emerge from neuroscience are put forth, they may contribute
to a second Enlightenment. If such a second coming occurs, its major
scientific underpinning will be neuroscience, not physics."

An "Enlightenment" singularity. I like that. Does it too closely correspond
to rapture?

Stay hungry,

--J. R.
3M TA3

"It seems to me that the human race stands on the brink of a major
breakthrough. We have advanced to the point where we can put our hand on the
hem of the curtain that separates us from an understanding of the nature of
our minds. Is it conceivable that we will withdraw our hand and turn back
through discouragement and lack of vision?"
--Percy Williams Bridgman



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