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Imagine a race of ultra-advanced aliens were to give us technology that keeps us not only alive indefinitely, but robust and healthy, without disease. Just that
by cbozeman 6y ago
Imagine a race of ultra-advanced aliens were to give us technology that keeps us not only alive indefinitely, but robust and healthy, without disease. Just that one piece of technology. Not even weird weapons like antimatter bombs, etc.
Do you think humanity would suddenly come together in understanding and peace to explore the stars and advance ourselves... or do you think people who already have enormous wealth and power would keep themselves positioned such that their influence and control grows?
Yeah...
We're not fucking worthy of that kind of technology. Neither are any other species.
Its the struggle to acquire knowledge and power that gives you the wisdom to use it for beneficial purposes. This is the whole core of Ian Malcolm's speech to John Hammond in Jurassic Park (the book), but also to a lesser extent, the movie.
- wait_a_minute 6y agoWe've never experienced this or had the chance to do it, so all we have to go off of are parallels to how we interact with each other. If we did this for others, we'd need to mentor and guide them into the future. If others did this for us, they'd need to do the same rather than just boost our tech and then abandon us. I'm optimistic that if it happened to us, even in the limited hypothetical you presented, we'd rapidly transform as a species for the better. Now, if that would've happened 50 years ago or longer...not so optimistic.
- rmah 6y agoWell no, but people would be robust and healthy, without disease. And IMO, that's a positive even if all our other failings are still there.
- wait_a_minute 6y agoAnd it would certainly be an improved platform for us to build upon and advance even more.
- stocknoob 6y agoFor the individual, yes, but for society? Death is nature's term limit. Without it we'd be under a Pharaoh with bronze-age ethics.
- wait_a_minute 6y agoUnless we figure out how to drastically extend our lifespans or do away with death altogether, although who even knows if it's possible...
- trhway 6y ago>Imagine a race of ultra-advanced aliens were to give us technology that keeps us not only alive indefinitely, but robust and healthy, without disease. Just that one piece of technology. Not even weird weapons like antimatter bombs, etc. I think that exactly what happened 2000 years ago. Unfortunately we just failed to understand most of the info and it got lost "in translation" due to communication barrier. The good thing is they did promise to return and try again when hopefully our development and ability to understand would get a bit more advanced.