Pro Suicide

A few years ago a friend told me about an acquaintance of his who had a good life, was old, not feeling well anymore, decided to cut his losses, check himself into a hotel, euthanise himself, and left money for the maid. I thought that was one of the most totally intelligent ways to deal with an unpleasant situation. I am not suicidal, but am very much pro suicide should my life situation change where I was going to be in chronic ill health and dire circumstances. As an atheist I have no fear of hell and believe that life is what we make of it. We give our lives meaning. I think we have the right to end our lives should we get to the point where living becomes a burden. I am a healthy, productive member of society and intend to stay that way for many, many years. I have no desire to sit around bored in an old folk’s home waiting to die. I would rather be in control of my circumstances than let the body crumble around me. Fear of death causes people to prolong life way past the point where it is pleasant in most circumstances. Why not embrace termination of self when one has had enough?

Rethinging AI

Could it be that many people in AI research are looking for the wrong indicators of consciousness based on our human prejudice? As biologically based organisms we have been programmed to seek domination for ourselves or our group as a means of survival. I have read some AI theorists who have brought up the hive form of consciousness as a possible model to look for and this seems on the right track. I must confess I have some idealistic tendencies and would hope that whatever evolves from AI research is a higher form of consciousness. If that be the case, wouldn’t it be great if computer life forms would seek mutual co-operation, employ parallel points of view, and lack the negative baggage that comes from our isolated, unitary perspectives that are part and parcel of our biological heritage? In that case we wouldn’t have anything to fear from smarter-than –human AI as it would have different motivating factors operating than the ones so often plaguing human history?