624
18 Future Developments
A saving grace is our ability to reason even in the presence of prejudice and
sterotypes. Recognizing that primitive emotions and tendencies may cloud our
reasoning power, we can decide not to act on the darker pressures. Such an
awakening may let us see our way to a future. With our knowledge and abilities in
the field of genetics, we do not need the primitive ‘we-they’ syndrome to determine
the direction of our species.
Freeman Dyson 5 considered the far future of life, even after all the stars have
extinguished, in a Universe which continues to expand (but not exponentially), and
described ways in which intelligent life could continue to exist.
It is even conceivable that life spread over the galaxies can control how the
Universe evolves. After all, we already know how to keep stars from imploding:
‘Simply’ blow them up and then keep the debris from collapsing back! This reserves
the hydrogen fuel, extending the time of light. We no longer need be bystanders in
this Universe.
Problems
18.1 Think of ways we might ‘blow up a star’, and then hold its hydrogen in
reserve. (Even now, we can think of ways of changing the evolution of the whole
universe!)
18.2 Give your arguments for or against the proposition that intelligent life systems
that have a leader with unchallengeable control over a large population is more
suitable for extended survival than a democratic structure.
18.3 What would prevent or curtail the creation of super humans by genetic
engineering?
18.4 How would a species of robots with intelligence greater than humans nevertheless be less fit than humans?
18.5 What would mitigate against the creation of immortal humans?
18.6 Once an intelligent and technologically advanced society develops the ability
to annihilate themselves, what factors might drastically reduce this possibility?
5 F.J. Dyson, Time without end, Rev Mod Phys 51, 447–460 (1979).
18 Future Developments
A saving grace is our ability to reason even in the presence of prejudice and
sterotypes. Recognizing that primitive emotions and tendencies may cloud our
reasoning power, we can decide not to act on the darker pressures. Such an
awakening may let us see our way to a future. With our knowledge and abilities in
the field of genetics, we do not need the primitive ‘we-they’ syndrome to determine
the direction of our species.
Freeman Dyson 5 considered the far future of life, even after all the stars have
extinguished, in a Universe which continues to expand (but not exponentially), and
described ways in which intelligent life could continue to exist.
It is even conceivable that life spread over the galaxies can control how the
Universe evolves. After all, we already know how to keep stars from imploding:
‘Simply’ blow them up and then keep the debris from collapsing back! This reserves
the hydrogen fuel, extending the time of light. We no longer need be bystanders in
this Universe.
Problems
18.1 Think of ways we might ‘blow up a star’, and then hold its hydrogen in
reserve. (Even now, we can think of ways of changing the evolution of the whole
universe!)
18.2 Give your arguments for or against the proposition that intelligent life systems
that have a leader with unchallengeable control over a large population is more
suitable for extended survival than a democratic structure.
18.3 What would prevent or curtail the creation of super humans by genetic
engineering?
18.4 How would a species of robots with intelligence greater than humans nevertheless be less fit than humans?
18.5 What would mitigate against the creation of immortal humans?
18.6 Once an intelligent and technologically advanced society develops the ability
to annihilate themselves, what factors might drastically reduce this possibility?
5 F.J. Dyson, Time without end, Rev Mod Phys 51, 447–460 (1979).