Stephen Hawking - Humanity has 1,000 years left

[Lamb]

http://www.newsweek.com/stephen-haw...w-place-live-522521?google_editors_picks=true

"Humanity will not survive another 1,000 years on Earth, according to renowned theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking.

Hawking told the Oxford University Union this week that climate change, artificial intelligence and other existential threats mean we need to find a new planet to live on."

 

[MarkFL]

I'm surprised he's giving us that long after last night's TBBT:

Seriously though, I do agree that having human outposts on other plants and even in other star systems would make our species much less vulnerable to a catastrophic event here on Earth. That's one of the many reasons science, and the funding of scientific programs, is so important. Of course, gaining a better understanding of the universe and how it works is its own reward, but a side effect of this better understanding is more advanced technology.

 

[Stravinsk]

http://www.newsweek.com/stephen-haw...w-place-live-522521?google_editors_picks=true

"Humanity will not survive another 1,000 years on Earth, according to renowned theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking.

Hawking told the Oxford University Union this week that climate change, artificial intelligence and other existential threats mean we need to find a new planet to live on."

Sure glad I don't put much stock in what Stephen Hawking says.

Some people hail this guy like he's the smartest man on earth or something. Some of the things he says are just plain embarrassing. Modern prophet of doom? Omg - we have to get off the planet, we won't survive 1000 years...because....climate change and artificial intelligence and "other threats"...are going to be our doom. Our doom, I tell you! There's nothing WE can do...we must fly away to greener planetary bodies in spacecraft! :yikes:

 

[MoreCoffee]

http://www.newsweek.com/stephen-haw...w-place-live-522521?google_editors_picks=true

"Humanity will not survive another 1,000 years on Earth, according to renowned theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking.

Hawking told the Oxford University Union this week that climate change, artificial intelligence and other existential threats mean we need to find a new planet to live on."

I don't see how finding another planet will protect us from artificial intelligence or extraterrestrials.

 

[Stravinsk]

I don't see how finding another planet will protect us from artificial intelligence or extraterrestrials.

You just don't have the understanding of Mr. Hawking, who's mind arguably lives on another planet. :;;D:

 

[MarkFL]

...Some people hail this guy like he's the smartest man on earth or something...

That would be Terence Tao. Everyone knows mathematicians, particularly number theorists, are smarter than physicists.

Seriously though, Dr. Hawking's contributions to physics, particularly involving black holes, have been staggering, especially when you consider he must formulate his theories largely using geometrical methods in his head. While I agree none of this makes him an authority on the future of mankind, I will listen to his opinions about it, or anyone with a comparable degree of knowledge about science, before I would listen to pretty much anyone else.

 

[Stravinsk]

That would be Terence Tao. Everyone knows mathematicians, particularly number theorists, are smarter than physicists.

Seriously though, Dr. Hawking's contributions to physics, particularly involving black holes, have been staggering, especially when you consider he must formulate his theories largely using geometrical methods in his head. While I agree none of this makes him an authority on the future of mankind, I will listen to his opinions about it, or anyone with a comparable degree of knowledge about science, before I would listen to pretty much anyone else.

It seems cruel to entertain the possibility, but sometimes reality can be. Since Mr Hawking cannot move anything besides a little of his cheek, it is possible that the opinions we hear of him are not really his. He couldn't protest if this were the truth. How do we really know?

Faith. For the believers, anyway. I don't share that faith because I don't cling to him as a source of knowledge. It's classic "argument from authority", and the subject matter and even his own prefix is admittedly *theoretical*. Theoretical physics is not prove-able physics. Hence the prefix.

In any case, I don't believe we even went to the moon, and I highly doubt space travel is possible, both for, what I believe, are solid reasons. So you could say I already come to the subject matter of the *authority* of Stephen Hawking's opinions with my own bias.

And in case it's brought up - NASA is not an authority in my mind either. Too many fictions attached to their findings. They're liars who sell a space dream for taxpayer money.

 

[Rens]

I know him.

 

[Josiah]

We have this WRONG concept of entitlement. Just because one is accomplished in one area - we think they are experts at EVERYTHING. It's silly. Some actor makes a statement about politics or climate change - and we think they are some authority on the subject.

Hawking is a brilliant theoretical physicist. That has very little (to no!) bearing on anything else. There's no reason to think his pov about politics or sports or biology or sociology or cars or marriage or religion or ANYTHING else is worthy of any unusual consideration.

When Hawking speaks on theoretical physics - I'm all ears. When he speaks on something else - there's no reason to give him any special consideration. None.



- Josiah

 

[Ackbach]

We have this WRONG concept of entitlement. Just because one is accomplished in one area - we think they are experts at EVERYTHING. It's silly. Some actor makes a statement about politics or climate change - and we think they are some authority on the subject.

Hawking is a brilliant theoretical physicist. That has very little (to no!) bearing on anything else. There's no reason to think his pov about politics or sports or biology or sociology or cars or marriage or religion or ANYTHING else is worthy of any unusual consideration.

When Hawking speaks on theoretical physics - I'm all ears. When he speaks on something else - there's no reason to give him any special consideration. None.



- Josiah

Exactly. To quote Hawking on climate science is to commit ad verecundiam: appeal to inappropriate authority.

 

[MarkFL]

Exactly. To quote Hawking on climate science is to commit ad verecundiam: appeal to inappropriate authority.

Yes, sadly lots of folks here in the U.S. would rather listen to political pundits or politicians regarding climate science, rather than listen to actual climatologists.

 

[Rens]

Yes, sadly lots of folks here in the U.S. would rather listen to political pundits or politicians regarding climate science, rather than listen to actual climatologists.

What do scientists know? It's just an invention from China LOL.

 

[popsthebuilder]

What makes any of you think that we have well over a thousand years if we continue at a similar rate to the present observable one?

 

[psalms 91]

Not me

 

[Lamb]

What makes any of you think that we have well over a thousand years if we continue at a similar rate to the present observable one?

I think we have time until the Lord decides to return for judgment day. Stephen Hawking has no clue when that will be. It could be tomorrow!

 

[ImaginaryDay2]

I don't see how finding another planet will protect us from artificial intelligence or extraterrestrials.

Dr. Hawking is showing his age, imo. Perhaps an aspect of his disability? His obsession with AI and doomsday proclamations is worrying.

 

[MarkFL]

I find myself agreeing with Dr. Hawking's warnings about our first encounter with a vastly superior intelligence, whether it be a race of beings from another star system, or an AI. We have only to look at how humans have collectively treated the other animals, and even our fellow man when there is a technology gap, to see that there is something about which to have caution and concern.

 

[Stravinsk]

If your mind is blown, don't fault me.

You clicked the link.

I'm warning you -

To not click it

If you don't want to be challenged.

K? K.

http://milesmathis.com/hawk3.pdf

 

[ImaginaryDay2]

Why...do I click links? Why...?

 

[Rens]

If your mind is blown, don't fault me.

You clicked the link.

I'm warning you -

To not click it

If you don't want to be challenged.

K? K.

http://milesmathis.com/hawk3.pdf

Oh who didn't? When I read that about Hillary I thought: What? But I guess it's standard these days.
Poor Hillary, doing all that effort to look great and young and what do they say? She's dead and a clone lol.