From: Harvey Newstrom (mail@HarveyNewstrom.com)
Date: Thu May 22 2003 - 22:15:19 MDT
Anders Sandberg wrote,
> Jared Diamond:
> > "Archaeologists studying the rise of farming have reconstructed
> a crucial
> > stage at which we made the worst mistake in human history.
> Forced to choose
> > between limiting population or trying to increase food
> production, we chose
> > the latter and ended up with starvation, warfare, and tyranny."
>
> It also set us on the path towards culture, superhuman intelligence and
> the stars. While I am no fan of technological determinism, to some
> extent the "choice" of farming leads to a competitive situation of
> expanding population, brainpower and civilization that rewards expanding
> our ecological niche and likely transforming our species.
Agreed! This is basic transhumanism. Any area of reality that we take over
and control (such as food sources) can lead to both good and evil. With
more control over anything, it will be used by evil people to increase
starvation, warfare and tyranny, and it will be used by good people to
expand civilization.
In other words, agriculture is as good or bad as any other tool. It can be
used for any purpose. Arguing whether it was good or bad is about as useful
as the g-u-n debates.
I think any tool that gives us more control is a transhuman tool. Whether
we use it wisely or not is up to us. Whether it has been used wisely or not
in the past does not constrain us from doing better in the future.
-- Harvey Newstrom, CISSP, IAM, GSEC, IBMCP <www.HarveyNewstrom.com> <www.Newstaff.com>
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