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Any sufficiently advanced extraterrestrial intelligence is indistinguishable from God
Scientific American ^
| 1/7/02
| Michael Shermer
Posted on 01/07/2002 8:19:37 AM PST by dead
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1
posted on
01/07/2002 8:19:37 AM PST
by
dead
To: dead
the point at which total computational power will rise to levels so far beyond anything that we can imagine that it will appear nearly infinite and thus be indistinguishable from omniscience--may be upon us as early as 2050. Just wait until you try to install Windows on a computer like that. I don't think omniscience will be a word we use to describe it. ;)
2
posted on
01/07/2002 8:24:31 AM PST
by
Brett66
To: dead
Don't make me come down there!
3
posted on
01/07/2002 8:25:59 AM PST
by
OWK
To: dead
Who thinks this article is appropriate to
Scientific American? This is just why my twenty-five year old subscription has lapsed.
The conspiracy of ignorance masquerades as common sense.
To: dead
michael shermer is a colossal idiot.
5
posted on
01/07/2002 8:28:42 AM PST
by
Exnihilo
Comment #6 Removed by Moderator
To: Exnihilo
Exnihilo is a shameless moose-kisser.
7
posted on
01/07/2002 8:33:53 AM PST
by
Eddeche
Comment #8 Removed by Moderator
To: dead
The assumption is that politicians (from every country and party) won't screw everything up for everybody...
From what I see they try harder with every day that goes by.
9
posted on
01/07/2002 8:35:24 AM PST
by
freefly
To: Exnihilo
michael shermer is a colossal idiot. Far be it from me to question your phenomenal powers of pronouncement, but why do you think he is an idiot?
10
posted on
01/07/2002 8:35:34 AM PST
by
OWK
To: dead
Ray Kurzweil, in his book The Age of Spiritual Machines, calculates that there have been 32 doublings since World War II and that the singularity point--the point at which total computational power will rise to levels so far beyond anything that we can imagine that it will appear nearly infinite and thus be indistinguishable from omniscience--may be upon us as early as 2050. Silliness, IMHO - our ability to distinguish computational power from omniscience also increases over time. Imagine what Charles Babbage would think of my abilty to look at a colored piece of glass and utilize the computational resouces of the internet - he might consider it omniscient but my 6-year-old nephew will come to consider it primitive. I believe this assertion suffers from the same weakness as a similar one (also Clarke?) - "technology at a sufficient level is indistinguishable from magic." That one also assumes that our ability to make that distinction is static, and, in fact, it is not.
Anyway, I already know that ETs aren't God - what in the world would God want with all those cow genitalia?
Comment #12 Removed by Moderator
To: dead
Anyone who thinks that computational power is the be-all and end-all is a complete twit.
To: Brett66
Just wait until you try to install Windows on a computer like that. I don't think omniscience will be a word we use to describe it. ;)"What Grove giveth, Gates taketh away."
14
posted on
01/07/2002 8:43:06 AM PST
by
dighton
To: semper_libertas
True science is the discovery of God. Truth about God and God's universe can only destroy religions that are founded upon flawed human ideals. Religions sincerely devoted to God will be strengthened by science, never weakened. Well said. May I quote you?
15
posted on
01/07/2002 8:46:09 AM PST
by
Samwise
To: semper_libertas
and thanks for the link. It looks to be a good read.
16
posted on
01/07/2002 8:49:03 AM PST
by
Samwise
To: Brett66
the point at which total computational power will rise to levels so far beyond anything that we can imagine that it will appear nearly infinite and thus be indistinguishable from omniscience--may be upon us as early as 2050. Just wait until you try to install Windows on a computer like that. I don't think omniscience will be a word we use to describe it. ;)
Both profound and extremely funny.
To: KayEyeDoubleDee
Ah, mathematics: invention or discovery?
18
posted on
01/07/2002 8:54:21 AM PST
by
onedoug
To: Billthedrill
...our ability to distinguish computational power from omniscience also increases over time. Excellent point!
19
posted on
01/07/2002 8:55:13 AM PST
by
Roscoe
To: dead
The author only concentrates on the infinite intelligence of God. He completely ignores God the Creator, the compassionate God who chose to save the world from its sins through Jesus, etc.
I will have no problem distinguishing God from Spock.
20
posted on
01/07/2002 8:55:27 AM PST
by
kidd
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