[META] Remember Extropy? (was RE: French Product List)

From: Emlyn O'regan (oregan.emlyn@healthsolve.com.au)
Date: Thu Mar 20 2003 - 19:44:30 MST

  • Next message: Eliezer S. Yudkowsky: "Re: let's make a meme"

    > Mike, I wont get into the political side of this in detail. All I will ask
    is does the forwarding of this list
    > increase extropy? I would imagine your answer may depend on your
    political view of the French actions. This is
    > the point that interests me, how one person may see an action or subject
    as extropic. Where another may not.
    > I am trying to get to the bottom of what 'Extropic" really means and how
    its interpretation can be skewed by other
    > factors.
    >
    > Alex

    It seems clear to me that Extropic is definitely in the eye of the beholder.
    This is an individualist philosophy that we are refering to; the
    interpretation of individuals must be paramount. Post-modernists might
    mutter something under their breaths about "multiplicity of discourse"; I'd
    simply say that each person is free to interpret Extropianism as he/she sees
    fit.

    Of course, that doesn't stop that anyone from being a stupid plonker (in the
    eyes of other individuals). But extropy is not the negative of the
    thermodynamic concept of entropy, and thus universal; it is a personal
    philosophy. While I may think that extropians should interpret the
    principles in a particular way, and you may think the same thing (although
    our particular definitions of extropy may differ), that doesn't make it so
    for anyone else.

    There is a unifying factor, which is rationality; it's in the principles.
    Might I humbly propose that we all take a few minutes to have a look at the
    principles today, read them and think about them just for a few minutes, and
    reflect on their relationship to our own recent posts? Leave aside
    consideration of other people's posts, no matter how vile you might consider
    them; just consider your own recent posting, in the light of the principles,
    and your own, hopefully somewhat internally consistent, interpretation of
    their meaning.

    For my part, I don't think that I can usefully post anything related to the
    current war for quite a while. Somehow all discussions turn to irrational
    crap, and end up being far worse than useless (imo). I know it's an
    important issue, I really do, and I feel really strongly about it. But, as
    objectively as I can, I have determined that there is just no point to
    further postings in regard of it, at least for the time being.

    Emlyn

    ***************************************************************************
    Confidentiality: The contents of this email are confidential and are
    intended only for the named recipient. If the reader of this e-mail is not
    the intended recipient you are hereby notified that any use, reproduction,
    disclosure or distribution of the information contained in the e-mail is
    prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please reply to us
    immediately and delete the document.
    Viruses: Any loss/damage incurred by using this material is not the sender's
    responsibility. Our entire liability will be limited to resupplying the
    material. No warranty is made that this material is free from computer virus
    or other defect.



    This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Thu Mar 20 2003 - 19:51:48 MST