[ExI] Are Dyson swarms a good idea?

[Jason Resch]

On Wed, Jan 28, 2026, 11:45 AM Ben Zaiboc via extropy-chat <
extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org> wrote:

> On 28/01/2026 13:38, Jason Resch wrote:
> >
> >
> >     Ben wrote:
> >     To go back to your original point, you think there is a moral
> argument for refraining from building something like a Dyson swarm because
> it would use material that could, potentially, be the basis for
> naturally-occurring future life forms (that might, possibly, eventually
> evolve into intelligent beings).
> >
> >
> > My point relates more to releasing self replicating probes to do so, and
> hegemonizing the whole galaxy or universe with a single species (the first
> intelligent one to arise), and in that process, denying the same chance for
> any other species of life anywhere else to arise.
>
> You're changing your argument, which was:
>
> > We see the aliens from the movie independence day as evil for trying to
> wipe out life on Earth. Is it not an equivalent evil to build a Dyson swarm
> around an alien star and preclude any chance of life from emerging on any
> planet in that system?
>
> That is the argument I was refuting. Talking about hegemonising  the whole
> galaxy, and supplanting any existing lifeforms with another, is another
> argument altogether.
>

You are right. There is a missing factor in the calculation which is the
probability that the solar system will develop conscious life.

It is an equivalent evil only when that factor is 1. And for systems with
no chance of developing life the factor is 0.

Jason
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