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We'll have to deal with it the same way we have dealt with nuclear weapons. By the threat of MAD. Since we do not have the maturity as a species not to weaponis

We'll have to deal with it the same way we have dealt with nuclear weapons. By the threat of MAD. Since we do not have the maturity as a species not to weaponise in the first place.

jfktrey 8y ago
There’s a major visibility difference between a nuclear bomb and gene editing.
captainmuon 8y ago
I'm not convinced MAD actually works. Once you see the bombs flying, the only logical thing to do is to give up your pre-war resolve of retaliation and completely submit - start printing Soviet flags so to speak. Of course, pre-war you'll try to convince the enemy that it isn't so, but they are not stupid. The only thing that saved us IMO was the power of the political elites (in East and West), that despite all saber-rattling rhetorics, never wanted a war. Now that that power is waning, I'm not sure what will save us this time around. Maybe religious elites can instill a taboo against using this kind of technology for harm?
- TeMPOraL 8y ago
  MAD works until bombs start flying. But if you let the enemy know you won't retaliate after the bombs fall, MAD breaks down and they're no longer deterred from dropping bombs in the first place. MAD works by creating a clear, indisputable casual relationship between you attacking and you getting destroyed.
- opwieurposiu 8y ago
  Vulcan's might do the logical thing, but Humans will fight back. MAD is one case where human emotion is both the cause and solution of a problem.
- nokcha 8y ago
  >Once you see the bombs flying, the only logical thing to do is to give up your pre-war resolve of retaliation and completely submit Not necessarily -- it depends on one's ethical philosophy. And it is well-known that humans do sometimes seek revenge even at the risk of their own lives. Plus, there are procedures in place for retaliating responding to a nuclear attack, so all that is required is for military personnel to act in accordance with the established procedures.
rbanffy 8y ago
The difference is that I can't enrich Uranium in my garage and no country can do that undetected. A bio-weapon like this is much simpler to develop and the fewer resources you can dedicate to keep it, the higher the odds it leaks into the environment with catastrophic effects. Nukes cause localized damage - a blast zone, some fallout and that's it. These weapons are not that easily contained.

We'll have to deal with it the same way we have dealt with nuclear weapons. By the threat of MAD. Since we do not have the maturity as a species not to weaponise in the first place.

jfktrey 8y ago

There’s a major visibility difference between a nuclear bomb and gene editing.

captainmuon 8y ago

I'm not convinced MAD actually works. Once you see the bombs flying, the only logical thing to do is to give up your pre-war resolve of retaliation and completely submit - start printing Soviet flags so to speak. Of course, pre-war you'll try to convince the enemy that it isn't so, but they are not stupid. The only thing that saved us IMO was the power of the political elites (in East and West), that despite all saber-rattling rhetorics, never wanted a war. Now that that power is waning, I'm not sure what will save us this time around. Maybe religious elites can instill a taboo against using this kind of technology for harm?

TeMPOraL 8y ago
MAD works until bombs start flying. But if you let the enemy know you won't retaliate after the bombs fall, MAD breaks down and they're no longer deterred from dropping bombs in the first place. MAD works by creating a clear, indisputable casual relationship between you attacking and you getting destroyed.
opwieurposiu 8y ago
Vulcan's might do the logical thing, but Humans will fight back. MAD is one case where human emotion is both the cause and solution of a problem.
nokcha 8y ago
>Once you see the bombs flying, the only logical thing to do is to give up your pre-war resolve of retaliation and completely submit Not necessarily -- it depends on one's ethical philosophy. And it is well-known that humans do sometimes seek revenge even at the risk of their own lives. Plus, there are procedures in place for retaliating responding to a nuclear attack, so all that is required is for military personnel to act in accordance with the established procedures.

rbanffy 8y ago

The difference is that I can't enrich Uranium in my garage and no country can do that undetected. A bio-weapon like this is much simpler to develop and the fewer resources you can dedicate to keep it, the higher the odds it leaks into the environment with catastrophic effects. Nukes cause localized damage - a blast zone, some fallout and that's it. These weapons are not that easily contained.