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Mac comments on Astronomy, space exploration and the Great Filter - Less Wrong Discussion

23 Post author: JoshuaZ 19 April 2015 07:26PM

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Tags: reasoning astronomy existential anthropic filter risk great

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Comment author: Mac 20 April 2015 12:12:07AM 3 points [-]

Unfortunately, there is very little money to actually deal with such problems if they arise. It might be possible to have a few wealthy individuals agree to set up accounts in escrow which would be used if an asteroid or similar threat arose.

I think you underestimate our species. If a devastating asteroid strike were imminent, I believe we would quickly raise an enormous amount of money to deal with the problem. Recent Ebola scare is a relevant (albeit smaller) example.

Comment author: dxu 20 April 2015 12:21:14AM *  5 points [-]

These things take time to implement, though--raising the money a week before the strike won't help if you don't have any measures already in place, where by "in place" I mean physically extant.

Comment author: Mac 05 May 2015 05:57:24PM *  0 points [-]

I guess you are right, but I honestly have no idea how long it would take the world to create and launch an effective countermeasure.

However, I am fairly confident that available money would not be insufficient as the OP suggests, hence my comment.

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