THE ONLY RATIONAL
STRATEGY FOR INTELLIGENT LIFE
Value of future experience =
quantity of experience x [average quality of experience - k]
where: k denotes the minimum tolerable quality.
Strategies to
maximise the value of future experience . . . qualitative and
quantitative
- The value of future experience is directly related to its
quantity (and is positive provided a minimum quality k
has been attained, which is not too hard).
- The typical human "natural" lifespan < 102
years.
- The typical habitable universe natural lifespan > 1010
years.
- The typical time available to advanced beings who have
re-engineered their own hardware platform and solved the
problem of universal thermodynamic (heat) death [scientific
eschatology] asymptotically approaches infinity.
- [Conclusion] Any self-respecting advanced intelligent
lifeform should, if it hasn't already done so, rid itself
of any "natural" constraints on lifespan, and
take some time out (or pay someone else to) during the
next few aeons to develop a solution to thermodynamic
death.
- The value of future experience is directly related to its
quantity and the difference between its quality and a
user definable minimum quality k.
- A monopoly is a lucrative generator of wealth, privilege
and / or power for its principals, to the detriment of
the consumer or the dispossessed.
- Government, a self-styled monopoly holder of the right to
initiate force, is naturally a lucrative generator of
wealth, power and privilege for its principals - e.g.
politicians, bureaucrats, and quangos - to the detriment
of the majority. Such detriment may include loss of life
as well as loss of wealth / liberty.
- [Conclusion] Any self-respecting advanced intelligent
lifeform should live according to a model of
privately-produced law and protection agencies [anarcho-capitalist],
as opposed to a regime incorporating a ruling elite which
holds a nationalised monopoly on these services.
- The value of future experience is directly related to its
quantity and the difference between its quality and a
user definable minimum quality k.
- It is science and rationalism - i.e. epistemologies which
judge theories by criteria such as internal consistency,
empirical evidential support, predictive value,
explanatory power, Occam's Razor, and compatibility with
the reductionist paradigm - which propel life's control
over its environment, thereby improving the quality and
quantity of life for advanced lifeforms.
- [Conclusion] Any self-respecting advanced intelligent
lifeform should adopt a scientific, rational approach to
reality, as opposed to embracing mysticism.