Freethought & Rationalism Archive

universatile · 07-28-2002, 05:14 PM

Genetics. Genetic engineering.

All else; robotics, computers, mechanical engineering, pales in comparison.

Starboy · 07-28-2002, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bill:
<strong>I beg to differ.

Second, looking the other way, we are approaching the actual limits of human knowledge. Most scientists believe that we are only a few years (or maybe, a few decades) away from a Theory of Everything, which would (eventually) expose all basic knowledge that actually exists.

At least, that is my prediction.

== Bill</strong>

Bill, that is a hoot. If the history of science has taught us anything it is: we do not know what we do not know.

There are so many cracks in the foundations of physics that I expect the next 100 years are going to be just as suprising as the last 100 years. And if the past is any indication of the future it will keep going that way for some time to come.

And that is my prediction.

Starboy

[ July 28, 2002: Message edited by: Starboy ]</p>

fando · 07-28-2002, 08:40 PM

I think that the fear of how technology can be used is different from the fear of the technology itself. I don't fear the idea of genetic engineering, I find it amazing to know how life works at the lowest level. But there is indeed reason to fear the use of this knowledge. I think that not being able to make this distinction severely limits a person's ability to cope with new ideas and the advance of technology, and I believe that this affects the majority of people.

So I am concerned when the anti-GM food hysteria begins to affect funding in genetic research, but that doesn't mean that I consider it a waste of time to worry about the impact of GM food. In fact, I think it is the responsibility of scientists to take a greater role in the issues surounding applications of knowledge, lest laws get created that hampers their efforts.

gregw · 07-31-2002, 03:30 PM

I'm coming to this thread rather late...oh well, biz and life and suchlike...If this is a bit discursive, please forgive me.

Every now and then I type up a story in "my own little universe" of 1000 years hence. It's kinda fun, really. Anyway, the progress of technology is, of course, very interesting to me.

Like most sci-fi, I have Humans (and aliens) moving faster than light. This is accomplished my some 'technobabble' of moving through dimensions higher than our own three. It's suppossed to be an extension of string theory, M-theory and all that. Total BS, of course, but think of this: at the last turn of the century, Newtownina mechanics and Maxwell's electo-magnetic equations were pretty much considered the end of technology. True, they could not quite be reconciled, but the thought seemed to be that they had a TOE. (They didn't use that phrase, but I'm sure the sentiment was there.) Then along came people such as Heisenburg, Bohr, Einstein...

I wonder if such a thing may happen regarding higher dimensions and "warp drive?"

As for the amazement of people of the past if they could view today's technology: I'm sure that most rational people (scientists, etc.) would be quite amazed...and then, once the technology was explained to them, would say "Ah, of course!" I think Newton would have been quite capable of understanding quantum physics, and even string theory, as well as, computers, planes, etc. I'm also quite sure that (assuming we *do* develop "warp drive" nanotechnolgy or some other sci-fi staple) the people of today could understand future technology, too, with the proper explanations. I think that there is no sufficiently advanced technology that cannot be understood by rational people. (Isn't that a corolary to Clarke's Law?) I don't know if there really is magic. I don't know if there really is a God. But maybe 'God' is the best term to use for whatever we don't understnad right now...but someday will.

As for a limit...perhaps M-theory *is* the end. Or, it may be the 21st century's Newtownian mechanics, and the next level will be found in 100 years. Temporal mechanics, perhaps. And then a century later, somthing else will take the place of *that.* And so on. Maybe there is no end...or maybe there is, and when we discover it, *we* will have become gods.

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07-28-2002, 05:14 PM	#21
universatile Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: LA Posts: 20	Genetics. Genetic engineering. All else; robotics, computers, mechanical engineering, pales in comparison.

07-28-2002, 08:40 PM	#23
fando Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Los Angeles Area Posts: 1,372	I think that the fear of how technology can be used is different from the fear of the technology itself. I don't fear the idea of genetic engineering, I find it amazing to know how life works at the lowest level. But there is indeed reason to fear the use of this knowledge. I think that not being able to make this distinction severely limits a person's ability to cope with new ideas and the advance of technology, and I believe that this affects the majority of people. So I am concerned when the anti-GM food hysteria begins to affect funding in genetic research, but that doesn't mean that I consider it a waste of time to worry about the impact of GM food. In fact, I think it is the responsibility of scientists to take a greater role in the issues surounding applications of knowledge, lest laws get created that hampers their efforts.

07-31-2002, 03:30 PM	#24
gregw Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Wakefield, MA., USA Posts: 32	I'm coming to this thread rather late...oh well, biz and life and suchlike...If this is a bit discursive, please forgive me. Every now and then I type up a story in "my own little universe" of 1000 years hence. It's kinda fun, really. Anyway, the progress of technology is, of course, very interesting to me. Like most sci-fi, I have Humans (and aliens) moving faster than light. This is accomplished my some 'technobabble' of moving through dimensions higher than our own three. It's suppossed to be an extension of string theory, M-theory and all that. Total BS, of course, but think of this: at the last turn of the century, Newtownina mechanics and Maxwell's electo-magnetic equations were pretty much considered the end of technology. True, they could not quite be reconciled, but the thought seemed to be that they had a TOE. (They didn't use that phrase, but I'm sure the sentiment was there.) Then along came people such as Heisenburg, Bohr, Einstein... I wonder if such a thing may happen regarding higher dimensions and "warp drive?" As for the amazement of people of the past if they could view today's technology: I'm sure that most rational people (scientists, etc.) would be quite amazed...and then, once the technology was explained to them, would say "Ah, of course!" I think Newton would have been quite capable of understanding quantum physics, and even string theory, as well as, computers, planes, etc. I'm also quite sure that (assuming we do develop "warp drive" nanotechnolgy or some other sci-fi staple) the people of today could understand future technology, too, with the proper explanations. I think that there is no sufficiently advanced technology that cannot be understood by rational people. (Isn't that a corolary to Clarke's Law?) I don't know if there really is magic. I don't know if there really is a God. But maybe 'God' is the best term to use for whatever we don't understnad right now...but someday will. As for a limit...perhaps M-theory is the end. Or, it may be the 21st century's Newtownian mechanics, and the next level will be found in 100 years. Temporal mechanics, perhaps. And then a century later, somthing else will take the place of that. And so on. Maybe there is no end...or maybe there is, and when we discover it, we will have become gods.

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