OK, so French culture tends to resist extropian common sense (it's so boring),
and opposes (or ignores) transhumanist sociobiology.
According to Bernard Percy, "In France during its industrial revolution,
workers did not like the changes that were happening in their work
environment. New technology, textile machinery, was being introduced that they
angrily believed would put them out of work or at least reduce their potential
wages. Their response, throw their sabots (wooden shoes worn by French
workers) into the machines to destroy them. Thus the word saboteur (one who
sabotages, destroys property or obstructs normal operations)."
Should this warn us about what to expect from conservative French culture vis
a vis human-competitive AI?
--- --- --- --- ---
Useless hypotheses, etc.:
consciousness, phlogiston, philosophy, vitalism, mind, free will, qualia,
analog computing, cultural relativism, GAC, Cyc, Eliza, cryonics, individual
uniqueness, ego, human values, scientific relinquishment, malevolent AI,
non-sensory experience
We move into a better future in proportion as science displaces superstition.
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