David Brin's latest novel, and a TED talk

[xortex]

You can't tell that to the devil I would imagine which is what all this science is ultimately creating - an evil God. Hence the expression the world is going to Hell. The Bible says clearly that everything is evil and controlled by the Devil so his win is our loss.

[Set Harth]

Personally, I like to get all my predictions of the future from people who see the Jedi as the villains of SW and think Yoda's a Sith.

It's more fun that way.

[sojourner]

xortex wrote:

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You can't tell that to the devil I would imagine which is what all this science is ultimately creating - an evil God. Hence the expression the world is going to Hell. The Bible says clearly that everything is evil and controlled by the Devil so his win is our loss.

You're a poor imitation of Think.

[RAMA]

xortex wrote:

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You can't tell that to the devil I would imagine which is what all this science is ultimately creating - an evil God. Hence the expression the world is going to Hell. The Bible says clearly that everything is evil and controlled by the Devil so his win is our loss.

Well since men created God(s) as well, then he must be evil too.

[Klaus]

sojourner wrote:

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Science is not a religion.

Correct... science proves things.

[RAMA]

Klaus wrote:

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Correct... science proves things.

Science is the way we try to prove things.

RAMA

[RAMA]

sojourner wrote:

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Science is not a religion.

Exactly

Human beings have a funny way of couching things in religious, "spiritual" terms to describe things....therefore you see people describing something difficult to comprehend, like the Singluarity and it's implications in such terms, which doesn't mean that it is spiritual. Sometimes words just aren't adequate...which strangely enough leads me to more Brin thoughts on the subject: http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/brin20110629 And an introduction to the whole topic he wrote: http://lifeboat.com/ex/singularities.and.nightmares

As well as a story he brashly sets AFTER the singularity: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0056A23TA/...ag=contbrin-20

RAMA

[xortex]

RAMA wrote:

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Well since men created God(s) as well, then he must be evil too.

Why do you say that man is evil? Most people say he's innately good, except only nobody knows what good is or God for that matter. Is he just mr. go do, go make? Telepathy would be bad enough but could you imagine a world where people's mind's became reality. That was the basis for Micheal Chriton's novel 'Sphere' though he referred to it as the power but it was an unconscious power rising to the surface quite literally. The next step in our evolution - transcendance.

[RAMA]

xortex wrote:

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Why do you say that man is evil? Most people say he's innately good, except only nobody knows what good is or God for that matter. Is he just mr. go do, go make? Telepathy would be bad enough but could you imagine a world where people's mind's became reality. That was the basis for Micheal Chriton's novel 'Sphere' though he referred to it as the power but it was an unconscious power rising to the surface quite literally. The next step in our evolution - transcendance.

I don't think man is inherently evil, religion has a tendency to look at things in absolutes, which I normally do not. Human beings have an equal capacity to do what society considers good or evil, modified by brain chemistry, usually by environment, and very often by opportunity.

Well Chrichton was always a bit of an alarmist, but always something to think about.

[RAMA]

sojourner wrote:

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^You're missing the point. The singularity is about as certain as the rapture. In other words, it's not. There is no guarantee that technology will advance at an accelerated rate especially in all areas. You need to temper your optimism with some realism. Things don't always work out.

Here's one of the big articles that popularized the Singularity, there's some good basic explanation of S curves and so on. It's a real layman's article.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/ar...8299-3,00.html

[sojourner]

^And a real puff piece.

[Lonemagpie]

stj wrote:

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(MacLeod is an English writer [he says he's Scottish but there's no difference visible in his work from this side of the Atlantic]

The difference will be visible when you call a Scot English to his face- visible in the form of an oncoming fist, usually!

[RAMA]

sojourner wrote:

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^And a real puff piece.

Its not very rigorous, don't expect it to be, it's a short article in Time. However, it can make a good entry point for the meme after all it's likely to be one of the two most important events in human history.

RAMA

[RAMA]

Existence comes out on June 19th right before my birthday, I've reserved my copy.

Yes...I still buy real books even though I have an e-book reader.

RAMA

[sojourner]

Yeah, well, when it's history and fact come talk to me about it. Until then it's as likely as the Rapture, which you can also come talk to me about when it's history and fact.