-Caveat Lector-
What gets bizarre in the discussion of interplanetary or even interstellar
colonization is the argument that the colonists need not be *physically* human.
Wheeler and Tipler, in *The Anthropic Cosmological Principle* (1987), and
Tipler, in *The Physics of Immortality* (1994), argue that intelligent,
self-replicating robots--"von Neumann machines"--could undertake the exploration
and colonization of the universe on humanity's behalf. These scientists believe
that the combination of intelligence and self-replication would qualify such
robots as "life" in a cosmic sense, and that the fact that their original
construction and programming was performed by human beings would permit the
robots to be considered "human." Thus "human" colonization of the universe
could be accomplished by beings very few of us would recognize as members of the
same "human race."
With regard to global warming, see Ben Bova's recent novel *Venus*, which draws
on current planetological research to suggest that Venus's surface conditions
are *not* the result of a greenhouse effect, and that the Venusian experience
cannot be used to predict the course of events on Earth. Bova argues, cogently,
that global warming on this planet is produced purely by human technology, *and
that human technology can and must reverse it.* (This book is, by the way, one
of the most gripping SF-adventure novels I've read in quite a while.)
Bob
----- Original Message -----
From: "Prudence L. Kuhn" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Monday, October 02, 2000 11:09 AM
Subject: Re: [CTRL] Hawking says greenhouse effect threatens human race survival
> -Caveat Lector-
>
> In a message dated 10/01/2000 5:30:34 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
>
> << To ensure the survival of humans, he adds, efforts must be made to
> colonize other planets. Space travel would not solve every problem, but at
> least it would ensure that people don't become extinct. >>
>
> My what a tragedy that would be. We contribute so much to the universe.
> Prudy
>
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