rileyoneill t1_j8gll0g wrote on February 14, 2023 at 3:40 AM

I think we are really not in a place to try to judge the honor of future cultures. There will likely be a lot of things we are doing now that will be socially unacceptable to people of the future. They could see the entire animal livestock industry as wrong and society tolerating such a thing is wicked and cruel.

We are really not in a position to prevent people who haven't been born yet with what they might do with the technology they invent.

People of the future might have an extreme aversion to Furries just because they associate it with their Millennial and Zoomer Great grant parents.

[deleted] OP t1_j8gmk7m wrote on February 14, 2023 at 3:48 AM

I agree. Hopefully, future technologies will allow us to be more compassionate and ethical. But it is important to remember, that the ideals we have now will in fact influence the honor of future societies just like how the ideals of our ancestors have influenced the honor of our current society.

Wolkkin t1_j8gqmg9 wrote on February 14, 2023 at 4:24 AM

And in many cases, soundly reject them.

The typical American standard of ‘degeneracy’ would shock a Victorian (British) era person, while a Roman citizen would wonder why we were so uptight about exposing our bodies. And that’s just one example of a cultural more; in response, both Roman and Victorian would wonder where our slaves went, and the typical American would (hopefully) be shocked at their callous treatment of another human being.

I agree with your sentiment of careful thought with the extent and implementation of new tech, but the term “degeneracy” places a moral scale on the situation that invites conflict and abuse. I would suggest something more like ‘just’ or ‘equitable’ as a better phrase for discussion.

(…and while it seems like being picky about the language is silly or petty, I believe it is vital to clear communication and eliminating grey areas that invite “word over spirit” loopholes and ‘rule’ bending.) Just my two bits.

[deleted] OP t1_j8gshoe wrote on February 14, 2023 at 4:41 AM

Injustice and inequity are not the same as decadence although the former can and often does lead to the latter. This is especially true if decadence starts to appear in the highest echelons of society. It is particularly scary when you apply this paradigm to the posthuman condition.

rileyoneill t1_j8gzajv wrote on February 14, 2023 at 5:51 AM

I think the ideals will influence future generations, but so will our short comings. Especially any short comings that have negative effects on future generations. Things past generations did that were wrong also greatly influenced us.