[[ After a period of intense activity at work, I'm now playing catch-up with my in-box . . . ]]
In a message dated 99-10-25 18:36:22 EDT, ajd@ualberta.ca (Aaron Davidson) wrote:
> Will we really have time to enjoy life in the future? Or will we be
> constantly struggling in an intense battle to keep up with the trajectory
> of future change.
> [snip]
> Does anyone have a plan to both surf the wave of
> advancement/self-improvement and still *enjoy* some of the other things
> life has to offer?
This is a SUPERB question, Aaron. As you say, there are lots of reasons to rush to develop transhuman technologies now and folks like Robin Hanson and Robert Bradbury make compelling cases for being involved on the cutting edge (the "fuhstest with the mostest" strategy). But I (for one) am with you in the desire to take the time to smell the roses along the way.
I think there IS a way to have the best of both worlds: Friendship and trust. Within a zone of personal trust, you should be able to take a break from the rush of advancing technologies to enjoy a few of their fruits without being left behind, secure in the knowledge that those who have taken their turn at work on developments while you were diving or flying or deep-space cruising will share the benefits of their work when you get back into the "trans-rat race". I don't want to be a part of any world that excludes such a possibility.
Greg Burch <GBurch1@aol.com>----<gburch@lockeliddell.com>
Attorney ::: Vice President, Extropy Institute ::: Wilderness Guide
http://users.aol.com/gburch1 -or- http://members.aol.com/gburch1
"Civilization is protest against nature;
progress requires us to take control of evolution."
Thomas Huxley