tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956838.post8628324044979763281..comments2023-11-22T01:14:54.298-08:00Comments on amor mundi: Amor Mundi on DisinfoDale Carricohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02811055279887722298noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956838.post-88472465461664815582013-01-15T14:44:37.544-08:002013-01-15T14:44:37.544-08:00> I have quite a few friends who are quite enth...> I have quite a few friends who are quite enthusiastic about<br />> the singularity hypothesis and have uncritical assumptions<br />> of an inevitable happy ending for all.<br /><br />The "inevitable happy ending for all" elevator pitch is quite<br />seductive, isn't it? (Or at least, an inevitable happy ending<br />for **me**, for those folks who fancy themselves made in the<br />image of John Galt.)<br /><br />It's even more seductive (at least, at first blush) when it's<br />repackaged as Scientific and Rational, and free from the<br />superstitious baggage of traditional religion (or, for that<br />matter, from the superstitious baggage of yesterday's,<br />or day-before-yesterday's New and Improved religions, like<br />Scientology and Mormonism).<br /><br />Unfortunately, holding on to that claimed support from<br />Science and Rationality takes an awful lot of mental gerrymandering,<br />and its continued persistence eventually calls one's own<br />common sense and sanity (not to mention Rationality) into<br />doubt.jimfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04975754342950063440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956838.post-83478452444089423902013-01-15T11:32:35.833-08:002013-01-15T11:32:35.833-08:00Hi
I followed the link at the Disinfo post here ...Hi <br /><br />I followed the link at the Disinfo post here and I'm really enjoying having a browse through your blog. I have quite a few friends who are quite enthusiastic about the singularity hypothesis and have uncritical assumptions of an inevitable happy ending for all. They seemed mesmerized at the prospect of digital immortality, robot limbs, technotopia etc. It always felt wrong and unlikely to me given my view of human nature but I couldn't put an argument together that would persuade them that even if it worked they (as average working joe types) would probably not stand to benefit. "Just, Imagine American Psycho's Patrick Bateman with an IQ of 3000 and the ability to control the structure of matter with his mind. How is that going to be a good thing for you?" type rhetorical tricks didn't cut but I'm pleased to find you have done a lot of the heavy lifting for me. Indeed, you've actually exposed the elitist misanthropy at its core. I'll be sharing your links with them going forward.<br /><br />Keep up the good work and good luck with your studies.Zed Saldanhahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10160519093323084492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956838.post-74927846357436626002013-01-14T14:05:20.121-08:002013-01-14T14:05:20.121-08:00I think any neuroscientists would balk at the idea...I think any neuroscientists would balk at the idea that you shouldn't be treated as an autonomous person just because your making your descisions with a meat brain as opposed to an immortal soul. And identifying factors which influence a decision isn't the same as identify why the decision was made. In complex systems events often don't have singular causes. <br /><br />You can reduce all of human behvour down to the laws of physics. This has no bearing on ethics or how we choose to conduct ourselves unless you think we need the threat of divine punishment to keep us in check.jollyspaniardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10999141103840765243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956838.post-31042740753301518842013-01-14T12:25:13.918-08:002013-01-14T12:25:13.918-08:00"Scientific" exposes of the non-reality ..."Scientific" exposes of the non-reality of freedom confuse an "ought" discussion with an "is" discussion. This confusion is not proof of fearless intellectual genius, but of, you know, confusion.Dale Carricohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02811055279887722298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956838.post-26626579511479785342013-01-14T12:18:41.678-08:002013-01-14T12:18:41.678-08:00Hey Dale I know this is a bit off topic but here i...Hey Dale I know this is a bit off topic but here is your dose of dumb Dvorsky<br /><br />http://io9.com/5975778/scientific-evidence-that-you-probably-dont-have-free-will<br /><br />BTW what is your stance on free will vs determinism debate? In my opinion the science is solid suggesting we are deterministic creatures in a deterministic universe. Since science does seep into politics however, I still want to be viewed as an autonomous agent and be respected as such. Viewing human beings as biological robot seems like a pretty convenient and devastating death trap, political wise.Black guy from the future pasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14136170325730022110noreply@blogger.com