[ExI] Fermi question, was is a FTL drive a dream . . .

[Anders Sandberg]

On 2011-12-21 13:08, Eugen Leitl wrote:
> On Wed, Dec 21, 2011 at 12:30:43PM +0100, Anders Sandberg wrote:
>> It is a start. So you don't think the assumption that the propensity for
>> colonizing is partially "inherited" from the parent civilization would
>> be true?
>
> I wouldn't call them civilizations, but ecosystems. But of course,
> the pioneer front self-selects for expansibility over comparatively
> short distances and times, in the classical darwinian way.

Which seems to lead to an evolution of "interstellar locusts". So where 
is the disagreement?

[ General nodding about expansion scenarios. ]

Upper limits of expansion speed seem rather stretchable, since once you 
Dyson even one star the energy to accelerate macroscale probes to high 
velocities is cheap, and the risk of destruction of probes due to 
collisions can be handled by building a lot of probes. The current name 
for the project at FHI is "Spamming the universe".

-- 
Anders Sandberg
Future of Humanity Institute
Oxford University