[extropy-chat] what to do

[Dirk Bruere]

Robin Hanson wrote:

> Now that I have tenure, I'm tempted to spend the next few years on a new
> post-tenure project.  Since I should choose carefully, I solicit your
> advice.  No rush; it will be a month or two until I finish my current 
> tasks.
>
> My goal is to make great things happen; getting personal credit can 
> enable
> me to do more things later, but is otherwise not the main goal.  By
> temperament I most like to think deep thoughts, I least like to manage
> other people, and explaining things is somewhere in the middle.
>
> Here are the ten main choices as I see them now:
>
> 3. Upload Futures Papers and Book - Return to and finish my papers 
> analyzing
> the social implications of future technologies, particularly uploads.  
> Then
> write a book summarizing this area.  I don't know of a more important 
> policy
> question, and no one else is doing this.  But it is not clear that making
> more people aware of these issues will produce better policy; future 
> tech is
> usually treated symbolically, and this often makes things worse.
>
I suggest a more modest variant on an analysis of future tech.
Namely, the impact of populations with genetically (or otherwise) 
enhanced intelligence.
Consider the book "IQ and the Wealth of Nations"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_IQ

Take it from there.
Then throw in the effects of longevity - is it a plus or minus?

It would certainly make an impact and unlike uploading, people will 
relate to it almost immediately since the tech is starting to come 
together right now.

-- 
Dirk

The Consensus:-
The political party for the new millenium
http://www.theconsensus.org



-- 
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.6.6 - Release Date: 08/06/2005