[ExI] Anders Sandberg

[BillK]

On 25 June 2018 at 05:30, Keith Henson wrote:
> I thought of Anders as the most interesting person on the Extropy
> list.  Unfortunately, he left some times ago.  He still does
> interesting stuff, I noticed this today
>
> https://www.rt.com/news/430736-aliens-search-fermi-paradox/
>
> Eric Drexler is one of the co-authors.
>
> "The researchers assigned each of the equation’s parameters a range
> from the smallest to the largest values they could possibly have,
> based on current knowledge. This revealed that in a third of the
> cases, the galaxy would be absolutely devoid of intelligent life
> anywhere else but Earth. In other scenarios, however, there could be a
> large number of civilizations."
>
> If civilizations are common and we don't see or hear from any of them,
> that has dire implications for humanity's future.  But if they are
> really uncommon, then our future is unknown and without precedent.
> Which is a lot better than being doomed.
>


I think the big mistake is to assume that advanced technological
civilisations will be pretty similar to us, but maybe with faster
rockets and a nicer iPhone.  :)
Humans have only had 'advanced' tech for about a hundred years and
look at the difference! The next 100 years will see the internet, AI,
robot intelligences, nanotech, life extension, disease cured, birth
rate dropping drastically, VR and total dependence on social systems
and connectivity, etc. etc.....

Now think about a few thousand years, still a blink of an eye in universe time.
We have no conception of what the motivations and culture will be for
these really advanced civilisations. Spamming and polluting the galaxy
is obviously not one of their objectives.  :)

BillK