Nick_Tarleton comments on Savulescu: "Genetically enhance humanity or face extinction" - Less Wrong

4 [deleted] 10 January 2010 12:26AM

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Comment author: Zachary_Kurtz 11 January 2010 10:24:27PM 3 points [-]

I don't think pre-modern catastrophes are relevant to this discussion.

The point about the anthropic issues are well taken, but I still contend that we should be skeptical of over-hyped predictions by supposed experts. Especially when they propose solutions that (apparently, to me) reduce 'freedoms.'

There is a grand tradition of them failing.

And, if we do have the anthropic explanation to 'protect us' from doomsday-like outcomes, why should we worry about them?

Can you explain how it is not hypocritical to consider anthropic explanations relevant to previous experiences but not to future ones?

Comment author: Nick_Tarleton 11 January 2010 10:32:21PM *  1 point [-]

The point about the anthropic issues are well taken, but I still contend that we should be skeptical of over-hyped predictions by supposed experts. Especially when they propose solutions that (apparently, to me) reduce 'freedoms.'

This is a legitimate heuristic, but how familiar are you with the object-level reasoning in this case, which IMO is much stronger?

Comment author: Zachary_Kurtz 11 January 2010 10:36:14PM 0 points [-]

not very. Thanks for the link.