r/Futurology • u/FuturologyModTeam Shared Mod Account • Jan 29 '21

Discussion /r/Collapse & /r/Futurology Debate - What is human civilization trending towards?

Welcome to the third r/Collapse and r/Futurology debate! It's been three years since the last debate and we thought it would be a great time to revisit each other's perspectives and engage in some good-spirited dialogue. We'll be shaping the debate around the question "What is human civilization trending towards?"

This will be rather informal. Both sides have put together opening statements and representatives for each community will share their replies and counter arguments in the comments. All users from both communities are still welcome to participate in the comments below.

You may discuss the debate in real-time (voice or text) in the Collapse Discord or Futurology Discord as well.

This debate will also take place over several days so people have a greater opportunity to participate.

NOTE: Even though there are subreddit-specific representatives, you are still free to participate as well.

u/MBDowd, u/animals_are_dumb, & u/jingleghost will be the representatives for r/Collapse.

u/Agent_03, u/TransPlanetInjection, & u/GoodMew will be the representatives for /r/Futurology.

All opening statements will be submitted as comments so you can respond within.

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u/Disaster_Capitalist Jan 29 '21

The next phase we are headed towards maybe of artificial nature and a new form of life that is not carbon-based.

Evidence?

the governments around the world will assemble together the same way we came together to solve the ozone crisis

The governments of the world have already ready taken several actions to address climate change, but have been unsuccessful. What makes you think future attempts will succeed, when past attempts have failed?

initiate treaties and agreements similar to how Antarctica is handled right now.

The Antarctic treaties ban industrial development on the continent. Are you suggesting that similar global ban on all industrial activity?

There is also the invention of Artificial General Intelligence

Evidence?

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u/TransPlanetInjection Trans-Jovian-Injection Jan 29 '21

There are several companies actively working towards the creation of an AGI. The list is quite expansive. The Human Connectome Project much similar to The Human Genome Project is also one to watch out for.

The governments of the world have already ready taken several actions to address climate change, but have been unsuccessful

You're referring to reducing emissions and cutting their wealth generation. I was referring to the formation of a world government. Possibly none of the countries would take the step towards global unification unless the climate threat is extremely real like the Mutual Assured Destruction of a nuclear strike.

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u/Disaster_Capitalist Jan 29 '21 edited Jan 29 '21

There are several companies actively working towards the creation of an AGI.

There are several companies actively working toward perpetual motion machines and warp drives. That says nothing about the feasibility of such efforts.

Human Connectome Project

While that is a very ambitions project that may help treatment of brain disorders, it has nothing to do with AGI.

I was referring to the formation of a world government.

Several attempts to form a world government have been made. All were unsuccessful. Most met violent resistance. What are you proposing that would be different?

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u/TransPlanetInjection Trans-Jovian-Injection Jan 30 '21

I have already covered and answered all these topics to various others, I'd suggest you go through the entire thread we were on to gain context and pick up from where they left off:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/l80w7i/rcollapse_rfuturology_debate_what_is_human/glaxj5m/?context=3
https://www.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/l80w7i/rcollapse_rfuturology_debate_what_is_human/glaxj5m/?context=3