16 replies to this topic

[TerryStonefield]

"We will one day cross galaxies as we do now streets. However we will do it at a much faster pace and without the need for such bulky devices as the human body."
- Terry Stonefield

[niner]

How do we get from our present level of technology to whatever will be needed for this galaxy hopping?

[Mind]

We will traverse virtual galaxies with our minds and imagination. The "virtual" and "real" world will become seamless.

[Amichai Řezník]

Nice quote terry. this one by you is pretty good too:
"Barring any catastrophic events, mankind will surely become the masters of this universe. A position that he will quickly tire of and seek out even greater challenges.""

We will traverse virtual galaxies with our minds and imagination. The "virtual" and "real" world will become seamless.

How exactly? Galaxies are in the phyiscal universe and it is logical to assume we would need the physcial laws to traverse through such a huge thing like a galaxy.

Edited by Amichai Řezník, 09 February 2013 - 12:30 AM.

[TerryStonefield]

Thanks Amichai. But where did you find my second quote? I don't think I posted it here...

[Mind]

Nice quote terry. this one by you is pretty good too:
"Barring any catastrophic events, mankind will surely become the masters of this universe. A position that he will quickly tire of and seek out even greater challenges.""

We will traverse virtual galaxies with our minds and imagination. The "virtual" and "real" world will become seamless.

How exactly? Galaxies are in the phyiscal universe and it is logical to assume we would need the physcial laws to traverse through such a huge thing like a galaxy.

All that is real is what our senses tell us. Subjective reality is all that exists. High fidelity virtual universes that are presented to our senses will be just as real as the "real" universe.

Or there is always the simulation/dream discussion.

Or, the "universe as computation" theory. Decipher how the universe is "computed" and easily break the "laws" of physics.

[TerryStonefield]

The laws of physics are like a group if unruly children. They need only to be rung in and taught how to behave.

[niner]

Are people supposed to smoke a doob before they can appreciate this thread?

[Amichai Řezník]

Nice quote terry. this one by you is pretty good too:
"Barring any catastrophic events, mankind will surely become the masters of this universe. A position that he will quickly tire of and seek out even greater challenges.""

We will traverse virtual galaxies with our minds and imagination. The "virtual" and "real" world will become seamless.

How exactly? Galaxies are in the phyiscal universe and it is logical to assume we would need the physcial laws to traverse through such a huge thing like a galaxy.

All that is real is what our senses tell us. Subjective reality is all that exists. High fidelity virtual universes that are presented to our senses will be just as real as the "real" universe.

Or there is always the simulation/dream discussion.

Or, the "universe as computation" theory. Decipher how the universe is "computed" and easily break the "laws" of physics.

I'm an Idealist too. But what you're suggesting is that we will travel through the universe without our physical bodies?

[TerryStonefield]

That's a possibility too, however on that concept I was thinking along the lines of matter/energy transformation. By raising the bodies matter energy cycle we can transform it into a state the can exist 'region' as our bodies natural energy. From that point if we seem to have some form of motion control as well as sensory input, then we can travel, and experience the universe at will. However if we need some additional assistance we can, as we do with light energy, compress and focus it. This 'lasered' energy can then travel, at least, at the speed of light to any destination. Additionally that energy must be tuned to incite perfect cohesion. As well a receiver must catch and reconstitute the energy into it's original mass form.

[albedo]

Our colonization of the known universe might be similar to the colonization life, in its most sophisticated form, made of our planet. An extraterrestrial life watching the first form of simple life which developed on Earth would have probably hardly guessed that that very same life would have evolved to a stage to put the very same planet at danger of existence million years later.

Similarly, it would likely be our (exponential) technology evolution which will allow us to expand to the edge of the universe itself. Nanotechnology, life-machines merging, exponential self replication might be the way we will be able to achieve that in the initial phase assuming we manage not to mess up and destroy everything before. In successive phases the space-time itself might be the ultimate non body substrate of intelligence.

Some event think that this scenario is the only possible way the universe itself will sort out its own end by allowing control of matter/energy asymmetries in the later stage of its existence (Tipler?)

Other thinkers have elaborated on this and on the different type of civilizations we might go through: from our very dangerous one (Type 0) to Type I and then Type II and Type III.

Of course these are maybe just speculative visions but they are powerful and bring a message of hope.

For those interested to these considerations and their critics you can read e.g. Barrow, Tipler, Dyson, Kaku, Penrose, Deutsch.

[Mind]

Are people supposed to smoke a doob before they can appreciate this thread?

Lol, that might help for some people I suppose. I doubt this guy was smoking when he discussed similar concepts (but you never know )

[shifter]

[Astrologers] believed that the stars controlled the destinies of men. The time may come when men control the destinies of stars.

So long as mankind doesn't self destruct itself, I believe the universe itself can be our playground....

Who knows, maybe the universe itself is a paradox. Later in the future, we may actually create the very universe we are living in!

[Logic]

Are people supposed to smoke a doob before they can appreciate this thread?

It seems to have worked for Carl Sagan!
http://wunderland.co.../CarlSagan.html

[Xenthide]

That's a possibility too, however on that concept I was thinking along the lines of matter/energy transformation. By raising the bodies matter energy cycle we can transform it into a state the can exist 'region' as our bodies natural energy. From that point if we seem to have some form of motion control as well as sensory input, then we can travel, and experience the universe at will. However if we need some additional assistance we can, as we do with light energy, compress and focus it. This 'lasered' energy can then travel, at least, at the speed of light to any destination. Additionally that energy must be tuned to incite perfect cohesion. As well a receiver must catch and reconstitute the energy into it's original mass form.

I get the sentiment but that whole paragraph is just nonsense. I've bolded the parts that are especially nonsensical in case it isn't clear what doesn't make sense.

[Toni Roman]

How do we get from our present level of technology to whatever will be needed for this galaxy hopping?

How? A lot of hard work, that's how. I am involved with such a project.

We will traverse virtual galaxies with our minds and imagination. The "virtual" and "real" world will become seamless.

Will? Future tense? We can traverse virtually with our minds and imagination now.

[Toni Roman]

When I did an article on intergalactic travel, I got responses from people who could only imagine some imaginary journey. If I cannot take my physical body with me, and friends and luggage; then I would suspect a scam like Bo and Peep and all those UFO cultists and New Agers "channeling" ascended masters and Space Brothers on flying saucers and similar claptrap and BS. Anyone who wants to dump their body and go on an astral voyage with Shirley MacLaine (fine actress but I don't want her as my travel agent), I suggest you go to Haiti where there are manipulative types willing to drug you and have you work in their sugar cane fields while your mind is effectively dead.

Seriously, separating mind and body is death. This is lesson number one of being an immortalist. Everyone from Neuroscientists researching the mind-brain interface to thanatologists could suggest to you that after death, no human (except possibly Jesus) survives the separation of mind and body. Mind without body is a ghost. Body without mind is a zombie, a curiosity topic among philosophers, the typical American voter, and, in the Jewish folklore of Eastern Europe, a golem. Even Jesus got back into His body (somewhat the worse for wear after Roman flagellation and crucifixion). Jesus is thought by many to be God Himself taking on human form in order to avoid criticism by humans that "you don't know what it is like to be human in a hostile universe, God. So why should we listen to you?" Well . . . God in this view does know what it is like to live a mortal existence and suffer death and taxes.

But nevermind all that. The point is that traveling to the far side of the Milky Way galaxy or to other galaxies ought to be understood to include actually going there -- meaning in your body and taking luggage and family and friends. Otherwise, you might as well get in bed, fall asleep and dream about going. I guarantee you that no one has ever brought one tangible object back as proof that they went anywhere when they were REM sleeping and dreaming. Once again, travel without your body is called death. Edgar Allan Poe made a career writing about dissolution after death. Nowadays, you can talk to people who do lucid dreaming. I would bet money that few of them can maintain focus all night without being tired or slightly wacko the next day. Focus is all that can keep a mind together once the body is dead. Just ask Edgar Allan Poe.