[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Sign-in] [Mail] [Setup] [Help]
Status: Not Logged In; Sign In
|
Science/Tech See other Science/Tech Articles Title: STEPHEN HAWKING WARNS HUMANITY: LEAVE EARTH BEFORE THE RULING CLASS DESTROYS IT Hawking’s numerous warnings are aimed directly at the careless hubris of the ruling elites Humanity’s future is in peril thanks to so-called advancements in science and technology, claims Professor Stephen Hawking, who cited“nuclear war, global warming, and genetically-modified viruses” as deadly threats to our existence. Hawking described various “things that could go wrong” to an audience of hundreds attending the first in a series of BBC Reith Lectures, which pertain to research about black holes. He asserted the necessity for colonization of other planets to ensure survival of the human species.According to the BBC, Hawking cautioned: “Although the chance of a disaster to planet Earth in a given year might be quite low, it adds up over time, and becomes a near certainty in the next thousand or ten thousand years. “By that time, we should have spread out into space, and to other stars, so a disaster on Earth would not mean the end of the human race. “However, we will not establish self-sustaining colonies in space for at least the next hundred years, so we have to be very careful in this period.” Though it would seem counterproductive for such a well-respected scientist to decry scientific progress as humanity’s most existential threat, this isn’t the first time Hawking has advised us to exercise caution, as Anti-Media hasreported several times. Last summer, the theoretical physicist was among over 1,000 artificial intelligence experts who signed an open letter about the weaponization of robots and the ongoing “military artificial intelligence arms race” among the world’s military powers. In October of last year, Hawking warned scientists at the European Center for Nuclear Research (CERN) about the potential for the Higgs Boson “God Particle” to initiate “catastrophic vacuum decay” — the formation of a quantum bubble that expands at the speed of light and could decimate the entire universe. Concern over the automation of the world’s workforce coupled with capitalist greed also earned the scientist’s stern alarm. In fact, taken collectively, Hawking’s numerous warnings are aimed directly at the careless hubris of the ruling elites and their tendency to act in favor of profit — in a variety of fields — without consideration given to long-term consequences resulting from such hastily implemented projects. Despite the numerous cautionary scenarios Hawking has proffered, heclaims society will likely discover the means to cope. “We are not going to stop making progress, or reverse it, so we have to recognize the dangers and control them,” he stated. “I’m an optimist, and I believe we can. “It’s important to ensure that these changes are heading in the right directions. In a democratic society, this means that everyone needs to have a basic understanding of science to make informed decisions about the future. “So communicate plainly what you are trying to do in science, and who knows, you might even end up understanding it yourself.” The BBC will broadcast this first lecture with Stephen Hawking on January 26 and February 2. It will also be found online here. Hawking’s theories, of course, haven’t escaped criticism; yet he does maintain a healthy enthusiasm, which was evidenced in this advice he offered young scientists: “From my own perspective, it has been a glorious time to be alive and doing research in theoretical physics. There is nothing like the Eureka moment of discovering something that no one knew before.” Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: Ada (#0)
Hawking warns of artificial intelligence and the weaponization of it. Could this be the "Terminator" of the movie? Escape the planet? According to Hawking, we will not be colonizing space for at least 100 years. I guess that leaves us all out of the picture. Even a newborn has little chance of seeing this occur. ;) "When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one." Edmund Burke
Sure. How can humanity stand a chance of a machine smarter, and perhaps nastier, than we are. Hawking pulled that 100 year figure out of his rear end. There is nothing in our solar system that's the least bit hospitable.
Exactly. Besides, if we've totally messed up this world, what gives us the right to trash another? It's really just an exercise in scientific vanity and megalomania.
the right of survival, i.e., self-defense
How bad does humanity have to get to say enough is enough?
Dunno. We will probably choose involuntary extinction although there is a movement for voluntary. Yesterday I posed an article on Japanese sex demographics and the bottom line is that a large percentage of the population simply doesn't want to breed. If the trend continues, the Japanese will have achieved voluntary extinction.
They have at least a billion nabers that would shed no tear.
Their neighbor's one child policy has not been completely recinded, just loosened a little for those in the rural areas who need help on the farm. Chinese fertility rate is something like 1.67, way below population sustainable rate. And they still abort female babies so the population ratio is 120 males to every 100 females.
|
||
|
[Home]
[Headlines]
[Latest Articles]
[Latest Comments]
[Post]
[Sign-in]
[Mail]
[Setup]
[Help]
|
||