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Philosophy of mind can progress, and the immortal can keep up with newly born and educated mortals for a while. Having a few immortals running around is probabl

Philosophy of mind can progress, and the immortal can keep up with newly born and educated mortals for a while. Having a few immortals running around is probably not a bad idea, actually, because stores of experience in the form of really old people would be able to give excellent advice. The problem that I foresee is that eventually, philosophy of mind and new schools of thought just won't be able to keep up with the Flynn effect. I've read things that my grandfather and great-grandfather wrote, and while they were not stupid men, they were certainly simpler than my cousins and I. Eventually, the immortal Homo Sapiens would make for an interesting pet at best.

sliverstorm 15y ago
If an immortal committed themselves to a lifetime (!!) of learning and improvement on the side (though not so much that all you do is learn), I suspect you could eliminate the Flynn effect. I personally believe if our ancestors were simpler folk, it's only because they learned less. The most important upside, assuming it can be managed of course, is that continually keeping an immortal up to speed requires less resources than bringing a newborn up to speed.
delinquentme 15y ago
" interesting pet at best " ?
- delinquentme 15y ago
  nice downvote... how about an explanation?? this quote is fodder.
  - colanderman 15y ago
    Someone (not I) downvoted you presumably because you didn't indicate what was your issue with the quoted material. Do you want a clarification? Do you disagree? Do you think it was a typo? Are you offended? A sole question mark does not content make.
    - delinquentme 15y ago
      ah, ( i guess ) theres nothing substantiating why these humans would be "pets" is this presuming that we all get Alzheimers? That theres a cap in mental capacity? ??
pavel_lishin 15y ago
Have you considered that perhaps you're simply smarter than your grandfather and great-grandfather, regardless of the Flynn effect? Ancient history is full of geniuses - and that's people that had the opportunity to use their minds. I'm willing to be a thousand Einstein-equivalents died every year as slaves on galleys, thralls on a farm, and footmen in war. The Flynn effect is still pretty new - it might only hold for recent times.

sliverstorm 15y ago

If an immortal committed themselves to a lifetime (!!) of learning and improvement on the side (though not so much that all you do is learn), I suspect you could eliminate the Flynn effect. I personally believe if our ancestors were simpler folk, it's only because they learned less. The most important upside, assuming it can be managed of course, is that continually keeping an immortal up to speed requires less resources than bringing a newborn up to speed.

delinquentme 15y ago

" interesting pet at best " ?

delinquentme 15y ago
nice downvote... how about an explanation?? this quote is fodder.
- colanderman 15y ago
  Someone (not I) downvoted you presumably because you didn't indicate what was your issue with the quoted material. Do you want a clarification? Do you disagree? Do you think it was a typo? Are you offended? A sole question mark does not content make.
  - delinquentme 15y ago
    ah, ( i guess ) theres nothing substantiating why these humans would be "pets" is this presuming that we all get Alzheimers? That theres a cap in mental capacity? ??

pavel_lishin 15y ago

Have you considered that perhaps you're simply smarter than your grandfather and great-grandfather, regardless of the Flynn effect? Ancient history is full of geniuses - and that's people that had the opportunity to use their minds. I'm willing to be a thousand Einstein-equivalents died every year as slaves on galleys, thralls on a farm, and footmen in war. The Flynn effect is still pretty new - it might only hold for recent times.