Re: Fermi "Paradox"

From: Robin Hanson (rhanson@gmu.edu)
Date: Fri Aug 15 2003 - 05:54:29 MDT

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    At 01:35 AM 8/15/2003 -0700, Samantha Atkins wrote:
    > > > > http://hanson.gmu.edu/filluniv.pdf
    > > >
    > > >As an aside, Robin's excellent analysis assumes a space-capable
    > > >civilization whose main objective is expansion and colonisation. Like a
    > > >Star Trek type of civ. It doesn't help with the problem of WHY a
    > > >post-singularity civilization composed almost entirely of old, immortal
    > > >beings already in possession of virtually unlimited resources would want
    > > >to expand.
    > >
    > > My analysis is of a selection effect operating on motivations. Given
    > > a diversity of motivations, I look at what evolutionary selection on
    > > such motivations produces in terms of behavior at the leading edge of
    > > spatial expansion.
    >
    >I am not at all sure that such an evolutionary analysis is applicable in any
    >meaningful way. Did you choose the "fitness" criteria in a way that escapes
    >being circular?

    I see what strategies are left at the leading edge, assuming many diverse
    strategies are tried internally. "Fit" is having many descendants at the
    leading edge.

    Robin Hanson rhanson@gmu.edu http://hanson.gmu.edu
    Assistant Professor of Economics, George Mason University
    MSN 1D3, Carow Hall, Fairfax VA 22030-4444
    703-993-2326 FAX: 703-993-2323



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