von Neumann machines (as used in space exploration and colonization) will not just need to be sentient and self-replicating, they will also need to have the capability of learning and evolving to meet new conditions, and possess a very strong instinct for self-preservation--just like their makers. They can't be provided with inhibitions and programming to obey their masters, eventually they'll find a way to get around them. What happens when they start competing with us for resources?
Their are plenty of examples in human history of colonies rebelling against the mother country, not just in N and S America, but even in the ancient cultures of the Mediterranean. I suspect the real Prime Directive common to all civilized cultures in the Galaxy is "Thou Shalt Never, EVER, Build von Neumann Machines." At least, not unsupervised ones.
Space/Science » in reply to Not required--Just a predictable accelerant to the process
Just a Berserker thought...
The whole thread (73 posts)
- Cultivating life on Earth and elsewhere.
- SEND COMPOST n/t
- Don't make it too complicated.
- Most colonization has been done so that people can prosper
- re: The time factor
- I believe you're absolutely correct.
- re: Cultivating life on Earth and elsewhere.
- Terraforming socialistic?
- Tired of people implying technology is bad or humans are bad for using it
- Who needs von Neumann machines?