Re: eyes for Mars

From: Anders Sandberg (asa@nada.kth.se)
Date: Wed Aug 20 2003 - 06:02:16 MDT

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    On Tue, Aug 19, 2003 at 11:30:22AM -0700, Robert J. Bradbury wrote:
    >
    > On Tue, 19 Aug 2003 asa@nada.kth.se wrote:
    >
    > > 8. The use of autonomously self-replicating non-citizen systems that can
    > > survive in free space is prohibited.
    >
    > Over my dead, decapitated, disassembled body.
    >
    > In particular, without allowing for (8), you have no way of enforcing
    > the rest of the Cruithne Accord process.

    Actually you can. Suppose replicators grow exponentially from a small
    seed, producing an exponential amount of weaponry (A0 exp(lambda t)). As
    soon as they are detected (at some spread threshold AT) caches of "blue
    goo" devices (of whatever nature) come active and start enforcing the
    accord, which takes time T2. If we for simplicity say that it takes an
    equal amount of blue goo to deal with an amount of replicators, the
    caches need only be large enough (B) so that in between detection and
    arrival the replicators have not become too many: A0 exp(lambda
    Tdetect+T2) = B where Tdetect = log(Adetect/A0)/lambda, i.e. B= Adetect
    exp(lambda T2). If T2 and Adetect are small (many widely dispersed
    caches, good monitoring) B can be made fairly small too, even without
    assuming replicating blue goo.

    If you want replicators, then you better make them citizens of your
    polity. (Only veterans who have replicated for the defense of the Dyson
    can vote? ;-)

    > Do you really believe that the NEO Adhoc or the Dyson Core Entelechy
    > will not take advantage of opportunities to grab the available energy
    > and subsequently the available mass?

    That depends on cultural factors. In the general case where no such
    factors can be assumed, only game theory rules and the best strategy is
    some form of deterrence. But if you have reason to trust them
    reasonably, then the strategies change. That is really what the Accord
    is about: a decision of sharing the solar system rather than have some
    kind of free-for-all land rush. The fact that it was agreed on sends a
    strong signal to the other sides and internally about what is considered
    acceptable.

    > The UN and the Martian Terraforming Network are at the bottom of
    > gravity wells and they have an inherent disadvantage should their
    > competitors decide to execute a coup d'etat.

    Yes. They are quite vulnerable. But why have the US not done a coup
    against the Amish?

    -- 
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Anders Sandberg                                      Towards Ascension!
    asa@nada.kth.se                            http://www.nada.kth.se/~asa/
    GCS/M/S/O d++ -p+ c++++ !l u+ e++ m++ s+/+ n--- h+/* f+ g+ w++ t+ r+ !y
    


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