From: Brett Paatsch (bpaatsch@bigpond.com)
Date: Thu Jul 17 2003 - 03:44:55 MDT
Anders Sandberg writes:
> On Wed, Jul 16, 2003 at 07:38:09PM -0700, Spike wrote:
> >
> > Dynamic and practical optimism
> > has been more difficult in the last couple years,
> > has it not?
>
>
...There was
> a technological determinism-optimism of 90s
> transhumanism that I have come to think of as both
> naive and passivating. It is not dynamic optimism: it is
> passive optimism. If the singularity is coming and
> Wired is always right, what use is there of doing
> anything except cheerleading?
Good point.
> I found Dr. Bainbridge's talk at TransVision 03 very
> constructive
> (http://www.transhumanism.com/articles_more.php?id=697_0_4_0_M).
> We are getting challenged, now we better respond.
>
> Personally I am *more* optimistic about the
> transhuman future today than I was just three years ago.
> We are finally starting to grow up.
Interesting. I reckon I could run the alternative argument
pretty plausibly, but that doesn't mean either is actually
true. The best and worst of all possible worlds can look
pretty similar depending. Is your current optimism a
general feeling or do you have particular reason(s) for
regarding today more favourably than three years ago?
Regards,
Brett
[Back with yet another new email address (to go with my
new high speed cable connection) and part way through
reading Stephen Hall's Merchants of Immortality. ]
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