Re: The prospect of immor(t)ality

Anders Sandberg (nv91-asa@nada.kth.se)
Tue, 24 Sep 1996 19:07:54 +0200 (MET DST)


On Sun, 22 Sep 1996, Damien Broderick wrote:

> Suppose the Singularity (to be concise if imprecise) is reasonably expected
> somewhere between 2030 and 2080, so that people alive now have some prospect
> of hanging on grimly until rejuvenative longevity is available. Sure, you
> can freeze your head, but it seems more provident to stay alive as long as
> possible. What does effect would this prospect have on your willingness to
> take risks?

This of course depends a lot on your views of death; if you regard
yourself as supremely important in your own universe, then you should
avoid all risks, while if you regard your existence as just another fun
aspect of the universe you can take some risks (up to a limit determined
by how non-I-centered you are).

Personally I avoid unnecessary risks and try to plan for possible future
contingencies, but I do not regard my survival as the one and only
driving force of my existence.

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Anders Sandberg Towards Ascension!
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