From: Harvey Newstrom (mail@HarveyNewstrom.com)
Date: Tue Apr 01 2003 - 17:58:17 MST
Charles Hixson wrote,
> cryofan@mylinuxisp.com wrote:
> >I have always thought that the basic premise that diversity
> is inherently beneficial is flawed
>
> There's not conflict here. Homogeneous environments are, when well
> adapted, more efficient (allowing for requisite
> specializations). But
> they are excessively vulnerable to even slight variations in the
> environment. And they provide fertile ground for any
> predator, be it a
> virus or a meme (or anything else). So there is a trade off between
> short term and long term benefits.
Evolution only works to develop improvements by diversity. Capitalism only
develops better products by diversity. Think tanks only think up new ideas
by diversity. Species only survive epidemics by diversity. Human thought,
art, philosophy, and creative thought only occur because of diversity. So
many extropian basics are dependent on diversity, that I imagine that
diversity must be a basic extropian value. I don't see how any extropian or
transhuman future can occur without diversity.
-- Harvey Newstrom, CISSP, IAM, GSEC <www.HarveyNewstrom.com>
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