[extropy-chat] pest-devouring automaton

[Adrian Tymes]

--- Eugen Leitl <eugen at leitl.org> wrote:
> On Sat, Jan 01, 2005 at 10:35:51AM -0500, Jeff
> Medina wrote:
> > This is such a bioLudd argument, I'm baffled by
> its appearance.
> 
> This is such a technofashist response, I'm baffled
> by its appearance.

On the Extro list?  We tend to lean towards
techno-optimism and away from neoluddism of all sorts.

Consider: we reject the Precautionary Principle -
which your email seems to embrace - and accept the
Proactionary Principle - which you seem to argue
against.

> Biologically inspired robotics is just great. Just,
> don't make it hunt, kill
> and digest live animals, and all is dandy.

What about animals in hibernation?  Or cryo-preserved?
Or merely asleep?  To different degrees of sensors,
those all seem to be dead.  (Granted, "asleep" is easy
to distinguish, but not all robots will necessarily
have means to tell.)