[ExI] Dealing with transhumanism bashing

[John Clark]

On Sun, Jun 23, 2013 at 1:34 PM, Alan Grimes <ALONZOTG at verizon.net> wrote:

> My contention is that 96% of the existing human population would prefer
> to live the way they are now, with only modest upgrades.
>

I think that's probably true (I would have said 99% but never mind), that
would mean that 4% want radical pedal to the metal upgrading, and that
would mean that only 4% have even a fighting chance of surviving the
singularity meat grinder. If anyone has a wish to survive they must shed
the silly superstitions regarding identity and consciousness that are
epidemic in society and even infects most members of this very list. If
they can do that then there would be no reason not to upload and upgrade
just as fast as they can, and if they are then also very lucky they just
might survive. Maybe.

And even if the atoms-soul superstition turns out to be 100% right and the
people who think information is the key to identity are 100% wrong people
with that (possibly incorrect) idea will still have vastly more influence
on the future than people who believe atoms are sacred because they will
not be held back by superstitious ideas about the soul or the mystical
"ORIGINAL". So it's pedal to the metal upgrading, Jupiter brain ahead for
them; while the more conservative gradually go extinct or at least become
irrelevant. Right or wrong the old ideas have no future, and I think
they're right.

Perhaps after the Singularity the more conservative among us could survive
in some little backwater like the Amish do today, but I doubt it.


> > The only way to change that number is to apply force.
>

Yes, I don't know exactly what the singularity will be like but I do know
that enormous forces will be unleashed, forces so powerful they could prove
to be very very dangerous to the weak, and perhaps even to the strong. You
have about a 0% chance of controlling what happens during the singularity,
the best you can hope for is to survive it.

> I presume that the uploaders intend to apply force.
>

All sorts of forces will be applied, but who or what will be doing it I
don't know. And the opinions of anybody alive today regarding the morality
or immorality of applying force will have virtually no effect on what
happens during the singularity.

> Powers are not rights.
>

Yeah but the problem is the powers aren't going to care, so you need to
plan accordingly.

  John K Clark
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