A Conversation among Friends

FADE IN: INT. LOCAL BAR--DAY JAMES, a young bookish looking man is sitting at the end of the bar. An American scientist and academic, James is dressed casually. Two fresh MEDALLA beers sit in front of him, but several empty bottles are near by. A small flower blooms on top of the bar, growing out of a bottle of Clorox Bleach. That's the type of bar we're in. James is joined by KAY. A Canadian, and fellow academic, Kay is young and vibrant. She has an easy grace about her. KAY: I see you've ordered drinks already. Thanks. JAMES: What kind of host would I be if I hadn't? KAY: I'm not sure there's much point to this though. JAMES: That's just because you haven't opened your mind to alternatives. All I ask for is the benefit of the doubt. Kay smiles. KAY: Whatever you say. JAMES: I missed your speech at the symposium, but I heard about it. Your hostility towards Kurzweil is a little harsh, don't you think? Kay sits down and opens her cerveza. She turns down the plastic glass offered by the BARTENDER. KAY: I just think that you techno-optimists are putting too much faith in your flaunted Moore's law. It seems like typical human arrogance again. JAMES: Ouch. You haven't even had a drink yet and already I'm arrogant? KAY: Just wait till I get warmed up. She takes another drink as she settles into her bar stool. KAY: Before we even get started, I want to know what makes you think that we can create these super intelligent beings when we can't even solve something like world hunger or poverty? JAMES: All of these discussions are rooted in human nature. KAY: Enlighten me. JAMES: What does it mean to be human? What separates us from the rest of nature? KAY: I think I could happily argue that very little separates us from nature. Indeed, it envelops us. We exist either in a state of nature that we are in conflict or sympatico with. Either way, nature is going to win. JAMES: I prefer to look at the tools. The technology that we have sets us apart from the rest of our bio-system. KAY: There's that same human arrogance I was talking about. We might be able to manipulate our environments, but we still live in a complex world of give and take with nature. JAMES: I concede that we give and take with nature, but it is our technology that flows from nature. We can be described as naturally technological beings. Forced to adapt, we use tools as our fur or teeth. KAY: How? How does our technology flow from nature? JAMES: I believe that the search for knowledge can be considered one of the essential elements of humanity. We used tools to not only adapt to harsh environments, but also to learn. KAY: I think I see where this is going. You're suggesting that technological development itself is our nature and probably even our destiny, right? JAMES: Exactly! I know there are other ways of approaching the argument, but I wanted you to know where I was coming from. KAY: I can accept that as a legitimate approach. That doesn't change, however, that none of this answers my more practical question of why technology has not solved all of our problems already. JAMES: Cynicism! The question is key, though. Up 'til now, technology has only been able to frustrate conflicts based around scarce resources. Look at the example of internal combustion. We have powerful engines that cannot run without oil and gas. The technologies Kurzweil talks most about--these knowledge enabled technologies--they have the potential to end these exact conflicts. The technology is already on its way. KAY: Are you kidding me? It's like we're talking about angels dancing on pinheads. Don't tell me: a break-through in nanotechnology is going to solve all of our problems, right? That seems to be the stock answer for any trans-humanist I've ever talked to. …