1 - I think it is good to be sceptical about this. I guess you’ve read about Pascal’s mugging and other related topics. I am happy you keep this debate alive as it’s not really settled.
2 - Yeah look at mirror bacteria, which is just one example of engineered, environment-to-human threats (air turning toxic)
3 - I think this is a useful intuition, but it also has limits. That said, there are step changes in history, such as powered flight invented only after thousands of years of longing and attempts by humans. This is about step changes in technology. If you believe DNA is the code of life, it is not a large leap to believe we can create really bad stuff. And it has happened before, like the great oxygenation event that ~killed all previous biological life on earth.
But basically, please be skeptical—it is super healthy!
1 - I think it is good to be sceptical about this. I guess you’ve read about Pascal’s mugging and other related topics. I am happy you keep this debate alive as it’s not really settled.
2 - Yeah look at mirror bacteria, which is just one example of engineered, environment-to-human threats (air turning toxic)
3 - I think this is a useful intuition, but it also has limits. That said, there are step changes in history, such as powered flight invented only after thousands of years of longing and attempts by humans. This is about step changes in technology. If you believe DNA is the code of life, it is not a large leap to believe we can create really bad stuff. And it has happened before, like the great oxygenation event that ~killed all previous biological life on earth.
But basically, please be skeptical—it is super healthy!
Ah, thank you!