Risk averse imortalists? (was Re: [extropy-chat] re:embedded in open hearts (Meta/EP))

[Brett Paatsch]

Keith Henson wrote:

> At 11:50 PM 12/04/05 -0700, you wrote:
>>While the reply below is interesting my motivation for the
>> question was a bit different. To what extent does our rational
>> self interest, especially extended to the possibility of indefinitely
>> long life. make us less willing to stand up to variously sized evils
>> that are not directly threatening to our life?   I would expect a 
>> tendency to keep a bit lower profile than the population at large and to 
>> take less risks.
>>Yet I know from experience such conservatism is by no means
>> universal among us.
>
> True.
>
> Case on point.
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Henson

In my university days, I co-founded a sceptics society with a friend
and a third friend, the society secretary, wanted to 'go after' scientology.
I don't know much about scientology then and still don't now to be
honest, as we were warned off it by the then president of the Australian
Skeptics Society who happened to be a lawyer. He essentially said
that the scientologist would fight tooth and nail with every legal resource
they could muster.

I remember thinking at the time, aged 19, so what? If there are doing
something they shouldn't be doing why isn't he and lawyers like him
thinking 'bring it on'. After all if no one takes up the challenge don't we
all live with the consequences.

I know from what you have written that you are interested in memes
and evolutionary psychology. So am I. I just re-read Dawkins
Chapter 12, of the Selfish Gene where he discusses Axelrod's work
with Prisoners Dilemma and Tit for tat etc.

Why pick a fight with scientology Keith? Were you not using
*rational* self-interest at the time? Did you bite off more than you
knew? Was it a stand on principle? If so what principle?

It has occurred to me, as it appears to have occurred to Samantha
that perhaps those that know they are going to die sooner or later,
are more willing to fight, and even to die sooner in defence of
something, some other value than themselves.

Brett Paatsch