Should we choose to limit or not limit our technology?

Discussion in 'General Philosophy' started by Unregarded Royalty, Mar 25, 2012.

  1. The Shaw Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second

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    Did you read manna? I think you would enjoy it.
  2. LampRevolt Well-Known Member

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    it's a tale that sends you off to lala land and you probably won't come back down to the reality around you for a good while.

    Has some important points though.
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  3. BattalionOfRed Mr. Fred Battaliono

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    Never heard of it, however if you sincerely think it would fit into my interests, I'll check it out.
  4. LampRevolt Well-Known Member

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    It's in his signature, and is a short story.
  5. The Shaw Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second

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    I think it would fit everybody's interests. And yes, it is in my sig.
  6. kennoji New Member

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    My opinion is that some technology should be banned because it could lead us to the destruction of mankind (eg. robot takeover). While other technologies can benifit mankind, I guess its best if we limit some areas to "delay" the destruction of mankind.
  7. Karakoran Well-Known Member

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    What kind of dumbass thinks technological progress is inherently a bad thing?
  8. kennoji New Member

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    Think deeply and you may see it. An example would be global climate change.
  9. Imperial1917 City-States God of War

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    Um...
    You can always make technologies to reduce/reverse climate change.
  10. UnitRico Well-Known Member

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    Someone's been watching too much science fiction.
  11. slydessertfox Total War Branch Head

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    The way to prevent a robot takeover is simply have something available that can shut the robot down if he gets any devious thoughts of the kind.
  12. Melanthropist Well-Known Member

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    I dislike people's absolute trust in technological advances to universally improve the human condition. Technology is extremely destabilizing to the current system and there is no guarantee it won't end in a totalitarian "stable dictatorship", as one article I read put it, or any other number of nasty things. Not to mention I'm not really impressed with the results of technology right now, especially communication technology. There's far too many drooling idiots on their smart phones checking facebook every 2 minutes.
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  13. UnitRico Well-Known Member

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    Why make robots capable of taking over in the first place?

    While this is true to some extent, you can't deny that technological and scientific progress have significantly increased living standards.
  14. Unregarded Royalty Member

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    Well i didn't mean a limit ourselfs for the sake of tradition, the fear of change or something like that.
    What i am talking about here is whether we should set up ethical boundaries or we should be flexible with those ethics for the sake of many if the cost is small enough.
    basically its a debate whether to stand your ground; or be flexible with your morals.
  15. slydessertfox Total War Branch Head

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    Well if you make a computer capable of actually thinking for itself, there is always the possibility that it will try to get devious murderous thoughts.
  16. kennoji New Member

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    Well looks like technology will be added to the list of things that would destroy all of mankind.
  17. Melanthropist Well-Known Member

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    You're right on that one, but I see it as a mixed blessing.
  18. kennoji New Member

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    True. Thats why I went with the neutral choice in the first place. After all the rate at which technology advances can never be stopped, unless we are all dead. xD
  19. Karakoran Well-Known Member

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    You know it doesn't take a fucking genius programmer to program the AI's personality to follow, say, the 3 Laws like in iRobot. A robot take-over is impossible because we're not stupid like that.

    Actually technological progress is probably what is ending dictatorships. Dictatorships fall because people in those states realize they are oppressed en masse and then are able to communicate. If you read 1984 you might remember how the three super states cut off each state from the other and thus cause the individual members, with no comparison, to think they are the free state and the others are not. As well, with communication people can begin to talk with others and get ideas around. Technology is what causes communication abilities to spread. Even though 16 year olds don't use it the best ability, technology is probably the reason for the Arab Spring and other protests, rebellions, and revolutions.

    So technology is inherently a liberating thing. There are exceptions like the Industrial Revolution actually decreased the standard of living for a tiny bit and technology has made warfare an increasingly more bloody thing, but for the most part it causes nations to be more free and the standard of living to go up.
  20. UnitRico Well-Known Member

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    Not only is Karakoran right, and would we be able to fully control even true AI, making AI has pretty much no advantages.

    Fair enough, I guess.

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