X-Message-Number: 20206
From: 
Date: Sun, 29 Sep 2002 02:14:05 EDT
Subject: Re: CryoNet #20165 - #20181

In a message dated 9/26/02 2:02:25 AM,  writes:

<<  The non-inevitability of progress >>

I can agree with Mark Plus that progress is a herky-jerky affair which is 
unpredictable in specifics, e.g. the 50 year lag in expectations of 
controlled fusion power, but disagree strongly on the main point of 
inevitability.  Progress in all fields of knowledge and its technological 
applications, e.g. to life extension and enhancement, is absolutely 
inevitable in the long run, even if humans do a lot of stupid and regressive 
things along the way, such as barring this or that kind of research.  These 
actions as well as catastrophies of various kinds can slow things down, but 
the general trend is obvious.  We never really go backward; we don't unlearn 
what is once learned.  Furthermore, the progressive trend has accelerated 
tremendously over the last 3 or 4 centuries and most obviously also in the 
latter half of the twentieth century.  Ron Havelock, CI member

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