Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!seismo!hao!hplabs!sri-unix!REM@MIT-MC From: REM%MIT-MC@sri-unix.UUCP Newsgroups: net.space Subject: The Nature of Paradigm Shifts --> space-based evolution Message-ID: <15047@sri-arpa.UUCP> Date: Tue, 10-Jan-84 02:40:00 EST Article-I.D.: sri-arpa.15047 Posted: Tue Jan 10 02:40:00 1984 Date-Received: Thu, 5-Jan-84 01:00:35 EST Lines: 28 From: Robert Elton Maas Date: 3 January 1984 23:22 EST From: Herb Lin why would we *want* to send our DNA molecules over the universe? For what purpose? [The answer is obvious to anyone who understands evolution by natural selection.] Because we have genes that give us the desire to survive (if we didn't, we wouldn't be here now) and because we have genes that give us the power of analytic thought (at least, most of us, you and I and everyone on this mailing list etc.) and because our science has shown us enough about the Universe to understand the concept and benefit-toward-survival of widespread distribution of lifeforms carrying our genes and our technology has brought us very close to feasibility (just a few tens of years to go; out of 4.3 billion years our genes have been evolving to date). I.e. we want to survive (by programing by our genes) and we will soon have a method to survive and we know we are close to having that method so naturally we will want to actually carry out that method of survival. In a lot of ways, the conditional probability of instituting panspermia as soon as we can (if we don't go extinct by nuclear war beforehand) is greater (more likely) than the current/absolute probability that we'll realize we have to prevent nuclear war to survive and that we'll choose to go ahead and do that prevention and that we'll actually be capable of preventing nuclear war. I ask you, why would we WANT to stop nuclear war, given that it's probably unstoppable? Sure we could WISH to stop nuclear war, but WANTing to do so implies some belief it's a reasonable/possible wish.