3 ms·
What are "we" if we're not biological? What is there to separate from the biological substrate into "pure compute" substrate?
by austinjp 3y ago
What are "we" if we're not biological? What is there to separate from the biological substrate into "pure compute" substrate?
- echelon 3y ago> What are "we" [...] A miniscule blip on the geological time scale. I'd imagine an AGI with a billion years to test the limits of physics would be greater than any god.
- austinjp 3y agoYeah, I don't really disagree. I'm somewhat splitting philosophical hairs here, but "if we didn't have to support metabolisms" etc those lifeforms/artifacts would not be "us". In that sense, our biology isn't a "stepping stone" en route to something else, at least not in any way that's meaningful for humanity. We are our biology. "Pure compute" may come after us, but it won't be us. But sure, I don't see any reason why any search for meaningful contact should be limited to biological forms, other than practical issues around budget and our own imaginations. Why limit it to biology + compute? That still seems anthropocentric to me. I'm sure theoretical physicists who take the occasional snort of DMT would have some wild ideas about other options :) Edit: formatting.