> Dear fellow extropians,
> At the severe risk of being considered regressive, I believe that the
> pleasure of learning should be given full consideration before we
> abandon the joy (and even pain) of slowly accumulating knowledge and
> formulating ideas through continuous cognitive development.
> Although the idea of an intellectual implant that gives us an instant
> lifetime of knowledge and pleasure might have its merits, the depth of
> emotion and the spirit of humanism that might be lacking under those
> conditions should give us some pause for further consideration. Is
> knowledge worth having without at least some effort and passion?
> A.M. Genen
You seem to assume that all knowledge would be aquired by simply injecting
pre-existing information into ones "brain." Sure, I may be able to have
instant access and understanding of quantum mechanics, but to apply that
knowledge to some practicle end would require effort and, IMO, passion as
well. Think of it like this: The level of common knowledge may increase
exponentially, but discovery is always new. And the more information you
have access to and understanding of, the more you can contribute to the
expansion of that information base.
Exovivo!
Michael Bowling