Re: Modern Technology: Out of Control?

Robin Hanson (hanson@econ.Berkeley.EDU)
Tue, 20 Jan 1998 09:21:36 -0800

Damien Broderick writes:
>Despite the beautiful patterns of life, evolution *has* no plan. It is a
>gigantic, stupid lottery. In such a universe, we are freed from fears of
>impiety. Since evolution does not have a plan for us, we may choose one
>for ourselves. In fact, that is what we have always done, whether we knew
>it or not. Yet people find it hard to grasp this essential moral point.

A nit: each of us can choose our own plan, but as humanity we cannot
choose a plan for ourselves. Evolutionary selection still functions, and
plans have reproductive consequences. Those who choose plans which result
in fewer progeny will be selected out in the long term.

Robin Hanson
hanson@econ.berkeley.edu http://hanson.berkeley.edu/
RWJF Health Policy Scholar, Sch. of Public Health 510-643-1884
140 Warren Hall, UC Berkeley, CA 94720-7360 FAX: 510-643-8614