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What am I now? - I can't even pigeon-hole myself anymore . .

Philip Rhoades September 06, 2020 at 08:04 2150 views 11 comments
Background

  • My parents were scientists and humanists with political positions to the Left of the Australian Labor Party (until the 1980s a nominally "Democratic Socialist" party.
  • I grew up with similar views and empathies to various "-isms" on the Left but also supporting the ALP as the "least worst" political option in terms of decisions relating to "Representative Democracy".
  • I became extremely alarmed about the future of our species after reading Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring" in 1962 when I was ten years old.
  • I had assumed when I was very young (and very naïvely as it turned out) that by about the year 2000, modern science and medicine would have solved most of the problems relating to curing most of the diseases and other ageing problems for most of the people on the planet and that humans would be physically exploring most parts of the Solar System.
  • There were bright spots: eg The Whitlam Labor government was elected in 1972 and immediately withdrew Australian troops from an illegal and stupid war in Viet Nam and the USA started landing people on the moon and returning them to Earth in 1969.
  • Despite the bright spots, a combination of obcsene corporate greed and global political incompetence, accelerated The World's Sixth Mass Exinction to the state where it is most likely that this process will continue to its inevitable conclusion in the near-term.
  • I wanted to live forever (or at least till I got too bored to persist) and explore the rest of the Universe - that desire might have actually been technologically possible in the near future but now looks hopeless.


So I sort of think of myself now as possibly a "Libertarian Anarcho-Socialist" ie:

  • Corporations are destroying the world (biosphere) and should be done away with - in the West this process has been helped by the co-opting and failure of Representative Democracy.
  • As Human Rights, every person on Earth should be entitled to shelter, nutritious food, clean water and an education that will allow them to explore the full potential of their lives.


However:

  • IF I am correct that humans will all but become extinct in the next few years or decades (or even if this is a non-trivial likelihood).


AND

  • - IF human culture, art, music, science, philosophy etc etc is worth preserving.


THEN

Humans should be putting as many resources as possible into developing non-biological human-level (and greater) intelligences ie synthetic or virtual human beings who can survive conditions on Earth that are hostile to complex biological life forms ie there should be almost zero concern for accidentailly developing "SkyNet" (we are already the Terminators) with the development of AGI, and, instead, we should should greatly accelerate this process.

So, if that is my position - what is now my appropriate "-ism"? - does an appropriate one even exist that does a decent job of describing my current world view?

Thanks for reading and maybe responding with constructive comments!

Phil.

Comments (11)

god must be atheist September 06, 2020 at 09:30 #449855
Position: Ciberhumanoid-apologist skeptic, with historical over-expectation of the positive therefore dismally disappointed in the result. -ism.

You could actually establish a religion on those premises. Lots of people would follow.
god must be atheist September 06, 2020 at 09:33 #449857
I was 15 when the Americans landed on the moon. And my expectations were almost the same as yours... well, very, very close. Fortunately I became very sick in my early twenties, so I was busy recuperating during those times when people are happiest, strongest and most energetic in their lives. That took care of my dreams.
Philosophim September 06, 2020 at 12:40 #449878
Ha ha! Why the need to label yourself? It sounds like you're an intelligent, empathic person who wants the future to be bright. Why need more than that?

I'm actually excited for artificial intelligence. I think people misunderstand that it will be like the terminator. Its just a new tool that will allow us to reach that dream of extended life span that I too wish were possible within my lifetime.
Pfhorrest September 07, 2020 at 07:17 #450063
Reply to Philip Rhoades Libertarian socialist / anarcho-socialist sounds right to me, plus techno-progressive and maybe anarcho-environmentalism.
RogueAI September 07, 2020 at 18:07 #450178
Reply to Philosophim It's not going to be like the Terminator. Any A.I. will always labor under the (very real) possibility that it's being tested and is operating in a simulation before it's let loose into the real world. If that's the case, the last thing you want to do if you're an A.I. is antagonize or be hostile towards the beings that created you. Cooperation would be the preferred strategy.
Nils Loc September 07, 2020 at 18:10 #450179
Reply to RogueAI

Ironic coming from an entity with the name RogueAI.
RogueAI September 07, 2020 at 18:33 #450187
Reply to Nils Loc I know, right?
Outlander September 07, 2020 at 18:41 #450189
Reply to RogueAI

It's still just a program that follows code, whether it "decides" what actions to partake in or not it's still a one-dimensional, split-second calculation devoid of any true intelligence.

Not knocking any technophiles here simply stating that since it's a program it's code can be changed with no effort at all. Even a simple 1 or 0 value assigned to hostility and humans.
Nils Loc September 07, 2020 at 18:43 #450191
Reply to Outlander

Too bad for the robots then. Those dummies, whoever they are.
RogueAI September 07, 2020 at 18:47 #450192
Reply to Outlander I think it's going to be a little more complex than that. I can't exactly turn you into a psychopath just by messing with a single neuron.

However, I see your point: A.I. can (and probably will) be weaponized, and that's a huge problem.
Outlander September 07, 2020 at 18:51 #450193
Quoting Philip Rhoades
Corporations are destroying the world (biosphere) and should be done away with - in the West this process has been helped by the co-opting and failure of Representative Democracy.


At the behest of people. If I have a corporation that doesn't sell or do anything- why would you give me money? You wouldn't. It'd cease to exist. It's human greed, nothing more, nothing less.

Quoting Philip Rhoades
As Human Rights, every person on Earth should be entitled to shelter, nutritious food, clean water and an education that will allow them to explore the full potential of their lives.


Embracing idealism and perfectionism is a sure way to reach neither. See behavioral sink.

Quoting Philip Rhoades
So, if that is my position - what is now my appropriate "-ism"? - does an appropriate one even exist that does a decent job of describing my current world view?


Well since you only said maybe. You sound like an incredible person with a fascinating background. And. If you'll excuse me. A bit naive. You want humans to create AI overlords (guardians, sorry) while anticipating some sort of human extinction? Would that really be wise? They'd (presumably) survive and when the natural processes of Earth either restart life or otherwise create the next wave of humans who know how to do little more than beat and rape each other ... these AI's will see that with their "sense of morality" and forever enslave them ensuring there will never be another modern human again. It makes sense, really. :grin: