I agree Jed, you are correct if humans were rational. Unfortunately, a
significant fraction are not rational, as can be easily seen at all
levels. When irrational people have the ability, they always attempt
to destroy. In the past, their ability was very limited. This ability
is growing.
Ed
On Jan 26, 2013, at 9:05 AM, Jed Rothwell wrote:
Edmund Storms <stor...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
A truly scary prospect, I would say. Humans now have three ways they
could make themselves extinct - atomic weapons, biological weapons,
and smart computers.
I do not see it that way. Nuclear or biological weapons would cause
only massive harm. Nothing good can come of using them. Whereas it
is easy to imagine a society in which computers do nearly all the
work, but we all prosper.
I am confident that if we can devise wonderful robots, we can also
devise an economy to fit them and benefit everyone. An economy is a
human invention like any other -- like a building, a railroad or a
computer. People sometimes say that an economy must follow the rules
of economics so we have no choice about how we shape it. It has to
be free market capitalistic. No other kind works. That is silly. A
building must follow the laws of engineering. You cannot make it out
materials so weak the walls will collapse. You cannot make a house
out of straw or bubble gum; you have to use wood, stone, brick or
steel. But within these restrictions we can make an infinite variety
of different houses.
Martin Ford described one possible economy based on robot labor. (http://www.thelightsinthetunnel.com/
) Other people will come up with better ideas. I am sure we can work
something out, if we try. Mankind has fixed countless similar
problems in the past. Life has improved tremendously for most
people. History gives us every reason to be optimistic.
- Jed
