tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753820.post136040643833858536..comments2023-10-30T04:16:25.917-04:00Comments on Sentient Developments: The 'Create the Future' mythGeorgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003484633933455827noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753820.post-10131219330635290352012-02-23T17:32:32.770-05:002012-02-23T17:32:32.770-05:00Interesting. Assuming the large-scale items in ou...Interesting. Assuming the large-scale items in our technological future are more-or-less predetermined at this point, doesn't that necessarily mean that the large-scale aspects of our adaptationism are also determined? I.e. we really, really, don't have any "choices"?<br /><br />Oh, maybe I missed your point. I guess the idea is that it's wrong to think that the future is completely wide open for us to create. There are restraints on what our choices will be. Our choices will, therefore, be a reaction (adaptation) to those constraints. Hence, our thinking won't be so much about creating the wide-open future but rather our thinking will be about how to manage the effects of our technology.<br /><br />I reckon those are both parts of a complex set of problems that require simultaneous solutions: we'll be thinking about how to improve our technology, AND how to use our technology, AND how to manage the externalities that arise from developing and using our technology.Vance Woodwardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10002131375643493387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753820.post-64226614168077500202010-10-12T10:47:07.415-04:002010-10-12T10:47:07.415-04:00You are making a good point. We can change our fut...You are making a good point. We can change our future only if we can control the future technology. <br /><br />Given the future concentration of technological power within the confines of a few groups chances are that these few groups will decide the future for the rest of us. <br /><br />Which can be good or bad. If you happen to be part of that group then everything will be fine. <br /><br />Indeed, many people waiting for singularity tend to forget that talking about Artificial Intelligence and controlling it are two separate issues. Some of the people from the SIAI list seem to forgot that.inventikonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09616669771756039576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753820.post-7407036561856163462010-08-16T00:12:05.408-04:002010-08-16T00:12:05.408-04:00Thanks, Jef -- but I didn't mean for this to s...Thanks, Jef -- but I didn't mean for this to sound like it was a sudden epiphany for me. I've held this perspective for many years, but thought I'd clarify it here.<br /><br />Along these lines, check out "Future Risks and the Challenge to Democracy"<br /><br />http://www.sentientdevelopments.com/2008/12/future-risks-and-challenge-to-democracy.htmlGeorgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13003484633933455827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753820.post-73522182856658888142010-08-15T20:37:26.286-04:002010-08-15T20:37:26.286-04:00George, congratulations on breaking free of the id...George, congratulations on breaking free of the idealism that seduces so many futurists. <br /><br />I hope you come to see also that letting go of unjustified fantasies (of an increasingly uncertain future) in no way entails powerlessness or warrants gloominess about our prospects.<br /><br />Rather, such improved clarity and coherence facilitates effective decision-making in the here and now for the promotion of our always only present but evolving values.Jefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07416828047961423292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753820.post-44065178097704747112010-08-15T17:08:29.593-04:002010-08-15T17:08:29.593-04:00We have always been technological adaptationists. ...We have always been technological adaptationists. Making stone tools was a kind of technological adaptation to a changing environment.<br /><br />What happens with technology is a bit like how cities develop. Cities are very rarely planned explicitly, and instead evolve as new architectures and modes of transport come along, with new pieces bolted on or old ones demolished.<br /><br />The ability of humans to adapt to their environment (where the environment also includes technology) is quite remarkable, and we have faced and overcome problems in the past which could have lead to dark futures or extinction scenarios. So I'm optimistic that the future probably isn't going to be one of relentless doom and gloom.Bob Mottramhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07508972554031337434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753820.post-36252758613045098302010-08-15T14:38:43.630-04:002010-08-15T14:38:43.630-04:00George:
I'm glad to see that you are blogging...George:<br /><br />I'm glad to see that you are blogging again. You have a great blog and I'm glad to see that you are back to it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com