the future of the state

[Metric]

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For supercities I think you would need extreme advancements to leave a state model entirely behind though.

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Agree. Based on the Walled City situation I don't think you can avoid a state for the purposes of town planning and garbage collection.

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I'm not trying to analyze this based on any particular city constructin -- I'm much more interested in the general trend of humanity. In the context of massive gains in technology, do humans (or post-humans) tend to become less stupid and more self-regulating, or more dangerous and essential to regulate? In the asymptotic limit, surely one trend must eventually win out decisively -- I can't imagine a world of super intelligent post-humans that are literally forever obsessed with semi-but-not-really limited government federalism. Either liberty will become a first principle, or it will become too costly and meaningless.

[Jamougha]

Metric,

I was referring to Kowloon Walled City, the only anarcho-capitalist territory that has existed afaik.

[laurentia]

Most likely enhancement will be available only for a minority who then decide on the scenario for the rest. I would be surprised if they didn't want at least some level of control.

[Metric]

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Metric,

I was referring to Kowloon Walled City, the only anarcho-capitalist territory that has existed afaik.

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You'll have to forgive my cluelessness...

[Metric]

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Most likely enhancement will be available only for a minority who then decide on the scenario for the rest. I would be surprised if they didn't want at least some level of control.

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I can't imagine this would be an asymptotic scenario -- enhanced overlords ruling over regular humans. At best, it would be a short phase when the enhancemet technology happens to be particularly expensive.

[laurentia]

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Most likely enhancement will be available only for a minority who then decide on the scenario for the rest. I would be surprised if they didn't want at least some level of control.

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I can't imagine this would be an asymptotic scenario -- enhanced overlords ruling over regular humans. At best, it would be a short phase when the enhancemet technology happens to be particularly expensive.

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And do you think there will only be a one and only technology?

[HDPM]

If you haven't read it, read Brave New War by John Robb. This gets into ideas of 4th generation warfare from John Boyd as well as decline of the state issues like Van Creveld. He discusses technology and empowered individuals and the trends that will cause; also looks at many of the things going on now to discuss how states can fail. I think we are already seeing some. I have Van Creveld's "Decline of the State" set to read and I haven't yet. That is another one to look at. In any event I think things will go more to the AC end of the spectrum.

[pvn]

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If you haven't read it, read Brave New War by John Robb.

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I haven't read this (yet) but I have talked to John Robb before (its been several years, back when he was briefly in the software business) and I can unconditionally recommend anything he writes. He's easily the smartest person I've ever personally talked to.

[oe39]

criminal behavior and poverty are caused by stupidity?

[pvn]

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criminal behavior and poverty are caused by stupidity?

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Not exactly. Stupidity isn't really the right word. Unsophisticated time preferences.