[extropy-chat] The Hidden Luddite was Re: peak oil debate

[Brett Paatsch]

Adrian Tymes wrote:

To: "ExI chat list" <extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2005 4:10 PM
Subject: Re: [extropy-chat] The Hidden Luddite was Re: peak oil debate


> --- Brett Paatsch <bpaatsch at bigpond.net.au> wrote:
>> Perhaps rather than just getting the word, A is not equal to B out,
>> when clearly some see A as like B, a worked example might be
>> produced that shows how a person applying the philosophy of
>> extropy would, or could, come to a different solution to a particular
>> problem than a person who was a libertarian. 
>> 
>> Once produced the worked example could then be pointed at. 
> 
> Ironically, the thing that sparked this part of the thread was one such
> example.  It was pointed out that some corporations put their own
> profits far ahead of human life, and indicated that government
> regulation - like requiring practices that make honest business a lot
> easier than murder for hire - could be a more effective mediator
> against the negative effects of this than pure free markets and
> reputations.  This is not the libertarian way, but it is compatible
> with extropian principles.

So you see using government to mitigate market forces as something
a person that holds to the philosophy of extropy might support whereas
a libertarian would not? 

That seems like a reasonable example of a difference. Forced to choose
between a libertarian mindset that would have no government at all on
high principle and another mindset that would accept the need for a 
government of some type, I'd tend to look at the second as being 
more realistic in 2005.

All else being equal the charge of utopianism would seem easier to level
at the first standpoint than the second.  

Brett Paatsch