Archive for the ‘science’ Category

Moral Confusion

Sunday, August 23rd, 2009

Kinda on a dodgy 80s movies kick right now. It’s epic. XD Anyway, just watched Electric Dreams (ZOMG :D ), and it got me thinking, because I have a habit of crying when AI computers ‘die’. See: 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Silent Running (1972), and Electric Dreams (1984) – yes, I have cried during all three, for HAL, for the three ickle droids, and for Edgar. ;_;

(As an aside, if you haven’t watched Silent Running, you should – it’s… haunting and incredibly sad. It stays with you. Srsly.)

I’m not one who likes writing hard sci-fi. I tend to stick to dystopia. This doesn’t stop me reading hard sci-fi though, and empathising with these AI computers. And it’s this ability to empathise with these AI computers that got me wondering what sort of ethics humans will need to adhere to if/when we get to a point in the future where AI computers are widespread.

Why do I say that we’ll need ethics? They’re just machines, right?
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Posted in artificial intelligence, computers, copyright, digital tech, ethics, euthanasia, morality, names, science, technology, the internet | No Comments »

The Great Global Warming Swindle?

Friday, July 13th, 2007

I’m the first to admit I’m not much of an extremist when it comes to the issue of global warming. I believe we’ve done some sort of damage to the Earth by the very act of living on it. It’s impossible not to impact the Earth somehow by our activities.

I believe that there is some warming going on, but I’m not convinced it’s as bad as environmentalists are preaching about. There’s too much politicising and extremism going on — from both sides — that’s getting in the way of the actual facts coming to light. I suppose this is why I’m still mostly a fence-sitter.

Yes, that controversial documentary screened tonight in Australia, with half an hour less content, mind, and a decent discussion on the issues afterwards that meant I had a whole hour of solid Tony Jones pervage, but that’s another matter entirely. (more…)

Posted in climate change, global warming, politics, science | No Comments »