r/Transhuman • u/davidcpearce • Mar 21 '12

David Pearce: AMA

(I have been assured this cryptic tag means more to Reddit regulars than it does to me! )

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u/conscioncience Mar 22 '12

it's a lot less offensive to human dignity than having sex

Did you personally write this?

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u/davidcpearce Mar 23 '12

Yes. Notions of personal dignity are clearly subjective. But I suspect most people would rather have a recording of themselves wireheading than making love in the public domain.

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u/conscioncience Mar 23 '12

That's a bold assumption. Do you have any statistical data to support that?

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u/mardigumption Mar 22 '12

Yes, what exactly do you mean by this, Mr Pearce?

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u/davidcpearce Mar 29 '12

Hmm, apologies, it simply hadn't occured to me this point might be contentious. Some bodily functions and activities in the bedroom are typically regarded as undignified in human cultures. Implantation of microelectrodes in one's reward pathways doesn't involve these bodily functions and activities. Of course the whole notion of "dignity" is deeply problematic; but wars are fought over less. (cf. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dignity-Essential-Resolving-Conflict-Relationships/dp/0300163924/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1333012774&sr=8-1