[extropy-chat] Transhumanist Survivalism

Acy James Stapp astapp at fizzfactorgames.com
Thu Jan 13 22:02:02 UTC 2005


This is good but I think you need to factor your possible causes of
collapse more carefully.

At the lowest level, we want to prevent technological stagnation or
collapse.

There are many necessary conditions for technological progress.
Facilities and infrastructure, demand for technology, availability of
funding, availability of researchers, and sufficient population to
maintain society are good examples. Failure of any of these conditions
will halt progress. Social devastation will likely reverse progress.

Each of these conditions can be triggered by several means. War could
destroy facilities and infrastructure, and focus research demand and
funding on weaponry. A human plague would destroy the population
necessary to support a social infrastructure and would focus research on
biotechnology. A totalitarian government could strongly inhibit research
except that which helps maintain the status quo and bolster the power of
those in charge. Massive climate change could destroy infrastructure as
well as population. A food plage which destroyed monoculture would just
as surely cause loss of human life as a plague directly on humans.
Resource depletion would focus research on means to increase
availability and efficiency of resource use. An extraterrestrial
extinction event such as an asteroid strike or unexpected solar event
could also be devastating. An economic collapse would remove the ability
to continue progress just as surely.

Finally we get to the motive. Some of these things will happen unless we
take action to stop them, such as resource depletion. Some need
preventative preparation, such as an asteroid strike. But most failures
would be due to social forces such as religious fundamentalism, fear of
technology and the future, ultraconsumerism, and tyrrany.

We need to consider all three of these levels when determining
contingency plans. One plan will most likely not be sufficient. We also
can not afford to ignore the contingency planning which has already been
done by survivalist organizations, governments, and other groups. We
will gain the most leverage by immediately working to shape the social
forces which could guide us into a dark age and avoid a collapse
entirely. Next most important is minimizing the effect of any collapse
event and preserving as much of society as possible. Least important is
recovering from a collapse.

Acy



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