Optimism [Was: flame wars]

From: Anders Sandberg (asa@nada.kth.se)
Date: Thu Jul 17 2003 - 03:15:10 MDT

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    On Wed, Jul 16, 2003 at 07:38:09PM -0700, Spike wrote:
    >
    > Dynamic and practical optimism
    > has been more difficult in the last couple years,
    > has it not?

    Interesting point. I think this is part of the truth (I see the average
    mood of the computer science students at the Institute every day), but
    it is also a hint that we might be better off without "fair weather
    extropians". There was a technological determinism-optimism of 90s
    transhumanism that I have come to think of as both naive and
    passivating. It is not dynamic optimism: it is passive optimism. If
    the singularity is coming and Wired is always right, what use is there
    of doing anything except cheerleading?

    Dynamic optimism is about actually doing something constructive. Sure,
    the IT sector is not doing great. But then we better invent new killer
    apps or find ways of using the existing in better ways. With cheap
    programming labor many new projects can be implemented that were too
    expensive before. Cryonics doesn't work? Too bad, let's find another
    solution. People are not acknowledging Drexler in nanotechnology? Write
    papers that do. Investments went bad? Start over, a bit more cautiously.
    Biotech is under regulatory and luddite attack. So? Go out and defend
    it!

    I found Dr. Bainbridge's talk at TransVision 03 very constructive
    (http://www.transhumanism.com/articles_more.php?id=697_0_4_0_M). We are
    getting challenged, now we better respond.
     
    Personally I am *more* optimistic about the transhuman future today than
    I was just three years ago. We are finally starting to grow up.
     

    -- 
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Anders Sandberg                                      Towards Ascension!
    asa@nada.kth.se                            http://www.nada.kth.se/~asa/
    GCS/M/S/O d++ -p+ c++++ !l u+ e++ m++ s+/+ n--- h+/* f+ g+ w++ t+ r+ !y
    


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