Will technology save us?

[geokker]

I think it is fair to say that the increasing sophistication in technology will continue unabated for as long as we maintain a relatively peaceful society.

Taking into consideration the burdon of the flesh, the non-zero probability of a catacalysmic impact of something or other on this planet and the vastness of interstellar distances, is it a given that we will dissolve our bodies into machines to assure our long-range survival?

An example:

The Earth is going to blow in 100 years. Radiation will render the solar system nonviable for even heavily augmented biology. Possible planetary candidates in other star systems are simply too far away.

Do we:

A) Party and die.
B) Party, hope a bit, then die.
C) Party, hope space aliens will save us then die.
D) Attempt to build robust, radiation-proof machines into which we can deposit our minds and live in a simulated reality while continuing to advance technology (at perhaps an accelerated rate) to the point where we can create more options e.g. faster than light travel, reconstituted biology etc. etc.

I'm thinking Tron, Matrix etc.

The question is - is this the future?

[Notice I specifically haven't said 'inevitable'.]

[Tormod]

Originally Posted by geokker

I think it is fair to say that the increasing sophistication in technology will continue unabated for as long as we maintain a relatively peaceful society.

Interesting post.

What is a "relatively peaceful society"? Japan, China, Taiwan? USA? Korea?

The greatest technological achievments of the previous century were all directly or indirectly results of war.

[UncleAl]

is it a given that we will dissolve our bodies into machines to assure our long-range survival?

The only part of you that is you is your brain.

1) We have no idea whatsover how to create any intelligence in any medium, in vivo or in silico.

2) We have no idea how to modify an existing intelligence (e.g., MK-ULTRA).

3) Your quote ain't gonna happen.

If you want to live forever (OK, a few hundred years), turn on global somatic telomerase. Your genetic structure will then persist through indeterminate numbers of cell divisions. Your lifespan will only be limited by accumulation of intractable metabolic wastes, accumulation of irreversible mutations, or frank physical damage.

You'll be senile by about 100 years of age. I cannot imagine what another 400 years of living will gain you. Try asking a fundie Christian.

[Biochemist]

Originally Posted by Tormod

...The greatest technological achievments of the previous century were all directly or indirectly results of war.

Wow, Tormod. I never thought of this. Even in medicine, I can think of a list of advances in medicine that were peace-time driven, but the number of medical advances that were war related is striking.

Do you suppose we advance best by fighting?

[geokker]

relatively peaceful = nothing that propels us into the stone age - or worse. I'm sure warfare will continue deeply into the future.

UncleAl,

The only part of you that is you is your brain.

I agree with that statement to a fair degree.

1. Perhaps for now, but the future - who's to say? A thousand years ago, who could have imagined television?

2. Who are 'We'? What is 'MK-ULTRA'?

3. Bold statement. Things change - fast. In the future, digitizing a human consciousness might be a matter of engineering a machine capable of simulating the constituent particles adequately. You think a two dimensional, silicon, 50 million transistor electron shuttling cpu is powerful? Wait.

Back to the question. We will change. Will we migrate into machines?

[Harzburgite]

Originally Posted by geokker

Will we migrate into machines?

I'll ask you the same question you asked UA, 'Who [or what] is we ?'
We (in this case humanity) does not understand exactly what constitutes self or consciousness. It is difficult to imagine transfering something we do not have a handle on.

[UncleAl]

First world civilization is crippled by 2015 when the Baby Boomers are retired and scream "GIMME!" all as one. First World civilization is ended by 2050 when all the easily extracted petroleum has been recovered. We have 10 years to get our act together as a planet and perhaps 40 to completely revise all science in ways we cannot presently imagine. Or we die starving, drowned in our own wastes.

Don't worry about 2100. It won't be there to worry about. If it makes you feel any better, "GIMME!" is "ubi es mea" in Latin.

[bumab]

Originally Posted by Biochemist

Do you suppose we advance best by fighting?

Yes. Always yes-

necessity is the mother of invention, and there is no greater necessity then survival.

[karlfreak]

yes i belive one day humanitie in all it's greatnest will be brought to it's knees just like everything else that we destroyed but i think that it will be mother nature that does it and technoligy will become obsulete because it is normally the most simple that are the most evolved

[Eclogite]

Originally Posted by karlfreak

because it is normally the most simple that are the most evolved

This statement is counterintuitive. Can you support it with examples?