Sunday 14 February 2016

Technology is our salvation and our damnation.

Technology is our salvation and our damnation. 

Explanation: Human life is fragile and may end. Natural disasters, from asteroid impacts to mass solar emissions, could end all life on earth. The probability of this happening, while small, is non-zero. Hence, while if remain on earth and at our current level of technological development we are bound to be eventually wiped out by such a disaster.

Technological development may well give us the ability to survive such disasters. Colonizing other planets (even if only with seed colonies which could resettle earth), creating life support systems on earth to withstand such chocks, changing our own bodies, the possibilities are endless and it is difficult to predict the path future development will take.

Technology increases our power. More power means we are better matched against nature and natural disasters. It also means we are more likely to do damage to ourselves which would be fatal. It may be the case that technology has greater defensive than offensive applications, in which case we are fine. (Think nuclear technology allowing us to spread to other worlds. Even if it leads to the occasional planetary Armageddon, on balance it seems unlikely that every planet would be destroyed at once) But, it seems unlikely that this will be the case for all points in time. It seems likely that, at some points, offensive applications will outweigh defensive applications. (Think AM generation developed today). If that is true, its a problem.

Better a chance at heaven than an eternity in hell

Still, if extinction is inevitable in our current state then progress, however risky, is better than standing still.

Not that we as a species have the ability to stop technological development. Collective Action Problem.

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