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It's not for nothing that the Singularity is referred to as "The Rapture of the Geeks". In all seriousness, though, the parallels between some forms of Rapture
by skermes 16y ago
It's not for nothing that the Singularity is referred to as "The Rapture of the Geeks".
In all seriousness, though, the parallels between some forms of Rapture philosophy and some forms of Singularity philosophy are pretty strong. Uploading your mind into a machine is very similar to being taken up to heaven.
- randallsquared 16y agoWell, as long as you overlook the minor detail that the evidence for computers is better than the evidence for heaven. ;)
- hugh3 16y agoA good line, but still doesn't justify the level of certainty which many of these people have in future events turning out the way they think they will. Back in the 90s, as a callow teenager, I happened to be lurking on a mailing list for transhumanists. One day someone on the list, well known to many of the others, died. "Fortunately", as the announcement to the list said, "his body was cryogenically frozen, so we'll all see him again after the singularity!" This was followed by a bunch of posts expressing confidence that this would indeed happen. It was roughly at this point that I decided that these people may be somewhat disconnected from reality, and living in a fantasyland of what they'd like to be true -- while I admit it's possible that this guy will one day be revived, there's no goddamn reason to have any confidence in it happening.
- randallsquared 16y agoI don't disagree. In fact, there's a whole branch of transhumanists (SIAI and fellow travelers) who may be even more pessimistic than you are, but don't view that as a reason to give up trying for a beneficial Singularity. Me, I'm concentrating on enjoying the ride, and if it turns out that humanity (including existing people) isn't wiped out by mid-century, that'll be a most pleasant surprise.