[extropy-chat] Uses to which Space Could Be Put (was Space: The Final Constraint)

[Eliezer S. Yudkowsky]

Lee Corbin wrote:
> 
> As for *space* not being the final constraint, well, if you want
> to add entropy as a prior constraint, don't forget to list these:
> 
>     supply of raw materials in the Solar System
>     supply of human vigor and enthusiasm
>     supply of federal dollars, Euros, yen, etc.
>     supply of willing voters & politicians
>     etc.

I'm saying that negentropy is the *limiting* constraint - not energy, 
not space, not even cooling area.  The limiting constraint is what you 
have least of, relative to your other resources, and what you cannot 
easily make more of.  The total amount you can compute in this universe 
before you die or find a way to leave, is determined by limits on 
negentropy - not space, not cooling, not even time.

-- 
Eliezer S. Yudkowsky                          http://singinst.org/
Research Fellow, Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence