X-Message-Number: 12718
From: Thomas Donaldson <>
Subject: too much enthusiasm interferes with thought
Date: Fri, 5 Nov 1999 23:55:30 +1100 (EST)

Too much enthusiasm may get in the way of thought:

1. We are not in total control of our own fate. If nothing else, evolution
   (otherwise known as natural selection) continues to act on us with
   the same force it always did. The difference is only that it acts on
   different things.

   And if some creature, artificial or not, arises by ANY MEANS, and is 
   superior to us (competes better than we do in the things we do) then
   it can and would wipe us out just as homo erectus was wiped out.

   That is why the desire to continue living is nowhere close to what
   we'll need to actually do that.

2. If we can find a way to preserve and revive ourselves which does not
   involve nanotechnology, then our preservation and revival will happen
   that much earlier. Yes, I think that for a significant fraction of 
   cryonics patients we can do just that.

   How does it matter that we are revived earlier than otherwise? Because
   once more we are not and never will be in total control of the
   universe. You may be preserved perfectly, but the longer you spend
   in suspension, the greater the chance of accidents (and even deliberate
   acts) which destroy you. Even then, if enough people are preserved,
   some may even be lucky enough to avoid those accidents. But I thought
   that the idea was to bring back as many as possible (and in particular
   yourself). 

3. The notion that ANY technology (or any other change) will immediately
   solve all our problems has been nonsense for centuries. If you really
   don't see this, then my only answer is: let us see. But such beliefs
   have constantly arisen through history, and constantly failed. 
   Antibiotics haven't cured us of all diseases, nuclear power hasn't
   given us cheap and abundant energy, radio and telecommunications 
   didn't make everyone so close that wars became impossible, and so
   on and on. Yes, nanotechnology is not any particular technology, 
   and so some may argue that it's different from these other cases;
   but then just because it isn't any particular technology, it will
   never arrive fully, any more than surgical technology or electrical
   technology has yet arrived fully. 

			Best and long long life to all,

				Thomas Donaldson

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