X-Message-Number: 962
Date: 06 Jul 92 22:24:16 EDT
From: Thomas Donaldson <>
Subject: Re: cryonics: #956 - #960

With reference to the comments made about my own statements that we
should not seriously expect totally autonomous machines to be made:

In any attempt to foresee the future, we must make hypotheses about how
human beings will behave. That is inescapable. True, we can imagine many
other kinds of behavior. But we are not writing fiction here, we are 
trying to understand fact, and one of those facts is our own existence
and feelings.

My original comments about Freeman's ideas began by saying that they 
sounded like they had come from someone who had been reading too much 
bad science fiction. Bad science fiction is notorious for making quite
implausible assumptions about human behavior --- of course, if we make
such assumptions we can devise many frightening and gory scenarios. But
that again is fiction rather than any attempt to REALLY anticipate the 
future.

Not only that, but in any such attempt to anticipate our REAL future
problems we can waste a tremendous amount of time talking about quite
ridiculous scenarios.... to the detriment of preparation for the more 
likely possibilities.

No, I do not think that the human race will deliberately choose to commit
collective suicide. Freeman's "superior machines" would merely be one way
of doing so; and if anyone believes that the human race WILL choose to
commit suicide, it should be clear to them that no amount of preparation
by us now will prevent it. Our machines may malfunction, yes ... and do a
lot of damage. But they will not rebel. Why? BECAUSE WE DESIGNED THEM NOT
TO REBEL.
			Best, and long life (for those who want to try for it)
				Thomas

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