Ray Kurzweil: the Singularity is not a Religion

MemeBox interviews futurist Ray Kurzweil on whether he believes that the Singularity has become its own religions movement. He explains that though a singularity may be transcendent that does not make belief in it equivalent to religion.

check out the future blogger article here: http://www.memebox.com/futureblogger/show/1231-ray-kurzweil-the-singularity-i...

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• kuzweil
• ray
• kurzweil
• singularity
• summit
• 2008
• religion
• religious
• movement

[PreacherCaleb]

Dude, there's transhumanists and transhumanists. There are the ones that make extrapolations and calculate and try to go about this as scientifically as possible, and there's the nutcases (of which there is no shortage in any field). There is no universally agreed-upon transhumanist view. I consider myself a transhumanist, yet i wouldn't say that the Singularity will fulfill spiritual needs. It will however fulfill most material needs so man will be free to focus on his intellect and spirit.

[SamHilland]

"wasting his time" What do you mean? He's been very accurate so far. I'm reading "The Singularity is Near" right now, and he backs up all his claims with data. I think there are precious few people like Ray who ask What will the world will look like?

[Ramiromasters]

(2024) So is not going to be next year?? oh crap... ok time for life direction adjustment, not happen here, everything good ha ha.... (cry)

[squamish4244]

@VulcanFleet We can already do that! Mind training has been shown to produce enormous changes in brain function. And it's a well-established path with plenty of safeguards. But it's not flashy or sexy, so let's start f-ing with our brains surgically instead, especially whatever has to do with power and control. What could possibly go wrong?

[squamish4244]

@macgeek21 Yeah, he's actually a pretty messed up dude. I don't want him trying to make my future for me. If he ever got some sort of political power I'd be worried.

[VulcanFleet]

@caveatemp Or with us realizing that power corrupts and modifying our brains so that it doesn't.

[VulcanFleet]

If Ray Kurzweil is too optimistic for your taste, there are transhumanists who are a lot more scientific and conservative with their estimates. Look up Eliezer Yudkowsky, Nick Bostrom, or Shane Legg.

[VulcanFleet]

Ray Kurzweil has made predictions about the future for 30 years or so. He's had some misses, but also some hits. For instance, he predicted the year the world chess champion would be a computer... and he was one year too conservative.

[TranscendentBen]

The interviewer says at 1:55 "this the first time someone has put a date on something in the Singularity and expected it to happen at a certain time." That's not true. Verner Vinge wrote in his seminal paper "The Coming Technological Singularity" in 1993: "... I believe that the creation of greater than human intelligence will occur during the next thirty years," putting it at 2023, quite close to Kurzweil's date of 2025 for a human-intelligence computer selling for $1,000.

[JesusHatesChristians]

@macgeek21 Because he's been right more than wrong. And you can say he's high on crack, but he has accomplished more than you ever will. What have you done lately to help your fellow human beings?

[JesusHatesChristians]

@macgeek21 It's not what his thesis is based on, it's his motivation. So what? His motivation does not invalidate his thesis.

[macgeek21]

this guy's whole thesis is based on the fact that he wants to live forever and bring his father back to life.