Not by Reason Alone

摘要

In a recent wired magazine article, Bill Joy argued that the consequences of research on robotics, genetic engineering and nanotechnology may lead to "knowledge-enabled mass destruction...hugely amplified by the power of self-replication." His medicine: "relinquish-ment...by limiting our pursuit of certain kinds of knowledge." I don't buy it. What troubles me with this argument is the arrogant notion that human logic can anticipate the effects of intended or unintended acts, and the more arrogant notion that human reasoning can determine the course of the universe. Let me explain and offer some alternatives.