Michael Allan’s files

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TITLE   An end to steer by, and a means

ABSTRACT

   Claiming that humanity has an essential end in the cosmos, I propose a means of
   attaining it.  The limit of light speed is small enough, I argue, and the interstellar
   distances large enough, that together they form a barrier to extinction events; life
   can radiate across that barrier (just), but death cannot.  Assuming a rational,
   purposeful morality and a supreme valuation on reason, I deduce (M0) that morality must
   purpose the endless continuity of rational being.  This becomes the material end to
   steer by.  The formal means to this end I then derive by analysis: (M1) that morality
   relates personal action to a universally collective end; and (M2) that it promotes a
   maximum of personal freedom compatible with equal freedoms for all.  From these 3
   principles of a moral theory, I proceed to elaborate the corresponding practices,
   beginning with the present.  Modern society is regulated by laws and other text-based
   norms.  Therefore the key capability at present is to compose consensus texts without
   limiting anyone's freedom of expression.  I describe 3 inventions that together would
   enable this: recombinant text, transitive voting and vote pipes.  The combination I
   call a 'guideway'.  I explain how a network of norm and election guideways, if
   introduced to society, would engage with its pre-existing legislative, electoral and
   other decision systems to form a primitive steering mechanism.  This would immediately
   generate a demand for consensus on the overall course, including our ultimate origin
   and destination.  I propose to meet this demand by introducing a further guideway -
   namely a myth-making, or 'mythopoeic' overguideway - to complete the means of steering.
   Recalling the claimed, material end, I conclude that the future of humanity is
   necessarily of mythic construction.  The essential, material practice of rational being
   is the perpetual telling and retelling of its own, immortal myth.

FULL TEXT   http://reluk.ca/project/autonomy/a/end/end.pdf

SUBMISSION   http://fqxi.org/community/forum/topic/2041

AUTHOR

   Michael Allan is a software engineer in Toronto specializing in collaborative social
   media.  His current work is based on project Votorola.