> What I don't get is why this debate - which comes up
> from the valley for a visit every now and again, like
> a loud cousin you only sort of like - pits cavemen
> against astronauts.
>
>
> It's (nearly) always 'are we better off than hunter
> gatherers?'
>
>
> A much more interesting question, at least to me, is
> whether or not my overall, plastic assisted, face
> recognition AI secured 'quality of life' is superior
> to that of a mid level functionary in 10th century
> China or the Roman empire at its organizational height
> or a Philadelphian of 1700 or a person living in some
> other complex, but pre-industrial, past civilization.
>
>
> At least then we'd be comparing large scale to large
> scale, restaurant and library hosting civilizations to
> restaurant and library hosting civilizations. This
> wouldn't guarantee better assumptions or less cultural
> anthropology volleyball but it might level the
> debating field of battle a wee bit.
>
>
>
>
> .d.
>
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