THIS IS NOT PHILOSOPHY! THIS IS ...

Lyle Burkhead (LYBRHED@delphi.com)
Sun, 01 Dec 1996 17:22:54 -0500 (EST)


First, a correction to yesterday's post. I wrote:

> What we call the "singularity" (for lack of a better term) will not
> happen by accident. It will be brought about by someone who
> intends to bring it about, ...

I meant to say: If it happens at all, it will be brought about by someone
who intends to bring it about.

Chris asked:

> do you actually believe it yourself?

No. I think the "Singularity" is a myth, an illusion, for reasons I have
given in many earlier posts. But I think numerous churches and cults
will form around the idea. They will of course deny being cults, as
all cults do. They will call themselves Memetic Engineers. But calling
Scientology "Memetic Enginerring" doesn't change its nature.

Eliezer Yudkowsky writes,

> THIS IS NOT PHILOSOPHY!
> THIS IS MEMETIC ENGINEERING!

Then why are we wasting time on it?

> Let's all remember that the Singularity may well be before 2000

Yeah, right.

I'm going to retire from the list. Merry Christmas to all, and to all
a good night!

Lyle