From: Robbie Lindauer (robblin@thetip.org)
Date: Sun Aug 31 2003 - 19:42:32 MDT
>> Were we FORCED to go to war?
> Yes
I guess I'm interested in knowing the meaning of "forced" you have in
mind here. I know time is short, what's the 30-second version?
>> It's not like I'm asking you to analyze the structure of human freedom
>> in its cultural dimension across temporal and sociological borders or
>> something.
I guess maybe I AM asking you to analyze the structure of human
freedom. I realize time is short - if you want me to chase down some
isms - determinism, objectivism, etc., I'm perfectly happy and capable.
Hopefully it's possible to explain how we were "forced" without
dragging down some really big heavy books.
> You'll agree it's quite difficult to do so when subjects like this
> come up,
> won't you?
Definitely, but here we are, doing it! Yeah!!!!
You haven't called me stupid and I haven't called you stupid yet.
We're doing pretty good!
>> Perfection is valueless without moral perfection. I would say, the
>> only worthwhile augmentation pursuit would be the moral one and that
>> it
>> OUGHT to have longevity-producing and human-improving side effects.
>
> Now in this we're in perfect agreement. How we'd go about defining
> morality
> to be perfected, aye, there's the rub.
Great, it sounds like we have a lot of common places to start. And it
even sounds like it's an extropian issue. The question can be a
hypothetical one if you prefer it:
Would a risk-averse morally-ideal-machine-person have a pre-emptive war
strategy, would they be pure pragmatists, would they be peaceniks?
In modern GenX terms, what would Brian Boytano do?
Best,
Robbie
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