A wonderful demolition of Transhumanist nonsense

[qcrisp]

Quote Originally Posted by Mr. Cheev

Quote Originally Posted by Hidden X Heh, can't imagine there being a huge chance of folks who constantly use C. S. Lewis quotes ever even watching a video with "SAM HARRIS" in its title. Maybe Mr. Harris can dedicate his next lecture to followers of C.S. Lewis. He can show up wasted, fall down on his way to the stage and hit his head. Hard. And perhaps he will be sufficiently incoherent that his inane gibberish will resonate with the C.S. Lewis crowd. Sam Harris and Demis Hassabis are merely neuroscientists, not brilliant theologians (joke). They are concerned with truth, not fantasy.

From the following link:

http://www.rationalresponders.com/ri...rational_world

"Authority, as a reason for believing something, means believing it because you are told to believe it by somebody important. "

Reasoning skills, gentlemen, please.

[Malone]

"Harris is a brilliant neuroscientist".

Actually, he received his doctorate in the subject only 7 years ago. He is an author of pop science books, pop philosophy books and pop religious discourse books, all of which have received serious criticisms by those in their fields. Plus, his brand of Buddhism is ultra-dogmatic, as has been pointed out, not to mention that his constant self-advertising seems somewhat at odds with Buddhist humility.

And no, I myself do not have any religious beliefs, so I am not defending anything esoteric. The topic was about human delusions.

[Justin Isis]

Quote Originally Posted by Karnos

Justin, I'm glad you are behaving like a self promoting dick, because I'm ordering your book tomorrow morning.

Thanks, dude. It didn't get many reviews so it's kicking back on the slow burn circuit of very gradually picking up readers. Anyway, I think this is the only SF book to date where the moderately godlike posthuman characters are more into polytheism, new clothes and getting high than they are into acting out tedious utopian/dystopian schemes. Even the factions trying to "destroy all humans" have banned the most common methods and scenarios for being "too boring" and are trying to think of more interesting ways to end human reproduction/wreck civilization/etc. etc. There are a fair few injokes aimed at people familiar with Kurzweil, Yudkowsky and the like. I agree that almost all the most prominent public transhumanists are very silly, and would likely be treated like embarrassing old uncles by any actual possible future posthuman beings.

[Robert Adam Gilmour]

Quote Originally Posted by Karnos

As for Harris, it is hard to think that someone who keeps affirming himself by writing god knows how many books, including a very silly one about his spiritual awakening (one that boils down to my-way-is-the-only-way zeal), believes for a second that he is just wetware.

Why not? I don't know everything about him and I'm sure he has his shortcomings but I think he's a pretty good guy and open to different views. He's constantly misrepresented, his opinions deliberately distorted and unfairly compared to Dawkins (who can be hilariously pompous, inappropriate and his expertize is much narrower).

[Comrade Tulayev]

Quote Originally Posted by Mr. Cheev

Quote Originally Posted by Hidden X Heh, can't imagine there being a huge chance of folks who constantly use C. S. Lewis quotes ever even watching a video with "SAM HARRIS" in its title. Maybe Mr. Harris can dedicate his next lecture to followers of C.S. Lewis. He can show up wasted, fall down on his way to the stage and hit his head. Hard. And perhaps he will be sufficiently incoherent that his inane gibberish will resonate with the C.S. Lewis crowd. Sam Harris and Demis Hassabis are merely neuroscientists, not brilliant theologians (joke). They are concerned with truth, not fantasy.

Sorry, but maybe I missing something about criticism of the AI Ted Talk. I found it to be interesting and didn't actually get a sense that Harris was cheer leading any of this along. In fact I got the impression that he was a bit alarmed at the rate and direction of technological advancement as it pertains to AI.

Perhaps someone could clarify the criticism here or the overall point.

Sam Harris displays a consistent open mindedness to his subjects. I admire him – particularly his ability to stay calm and measured in the face of some horrific smear campaigns.

[Robert Adam Gilmour]

I like his relaxing 2001 Space Odyssey Hal voice too.

[symbolique]

nil

[paul b.]

Some of his fanatical fans, mainly the part that dwells in such dark and teen-heavy corners of teh internets like the dreaded man-caverns of r/Atheism board, are infinitely worse than man himself.