TED Community » Nick Schmitt

More About Me

I'm passionate about

Equality, politics, furthering science

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• TEDCred score: +0.60 TEDCred reflects your contribution to the TED community.

• A reply on Conversation: "Morality" is an abused term/concept. Can you suggest a solid definition?

  Nov 4 2011: If society were to form some sort of technological hive mind (far into the future where all of our minds are all accelerated and interconnected by computer processors), this may allow for a fluid, balanced and clear transference and consideration of thoughts and opinions.
  
  This would have an effect similar to the way an individual mind operates today. Instead of a human whose actions have been stagnated by the different areas of his mind all bickering over the right thing to do, the human takes all experience into account and acts accordingly.
  
  Similarly, our capabilities in the future to share experiences and take into account all the experiences of others will become possible through super computer accelerating, and we will begin to transition from individual humans in a society to a single social organism.
  
  It may be a scary thought, and an extreme one, but one I've been thinking about nonetheless.
• +1

  A comment on Conversation: What, to you, are basic human rights?

  Nov 4 2011: I do not believe in a higher power or any objective morality, and therefore believe in no 'basic' human rights.
  
  I do, however, believe in socially-constructed human rights.

• A comment on Conversation: How can we avoid building superstitious A. I. ?

  Nov 4 2011: I believe there is nothing mystical about the human brain. Our consciousness is purely biomechanical, and, therefore, the likeness between humans and AI will know no bounds.
  
  Resultingly, the extinction or technological evolution of mankind is inevitable. There is no way in hell robots will not replace the traditional human.
  
  The only decision we CAN make is whether to become them or perish.
  
  But that's just my extreme opinion. ;)

• A reply on Conversation: Should we allow animals to have rights?

  Nov 4 2011: But from the bible, you are correct.
  
  Animals have no rights and humans are wholly entitled to subjugate them in any way we please.

• A reply on Conversation: Should we allow animals to have rights?

  Nov 4 2011: For some reason it won't let me reply to your recent post, so I'll reply to your first.
  
  I apologize.
  
  I shouldn't have criticized the Bible.
  
  Instead, I should have said, since we disagree about its credibility we cannot have this debate.

• A comment on Conversation: An emphasis on technology actually reduces the amount of learning.

  Nov 3 2011: To say that technology hinders one's learning ability is true to a very minor extent. The small hindrances that technology involves do not outweigh the lessons that we are taught, and the efficiency that comes with embracing technology.
  
  The use of the keyboard from early age means that one's handwriting will be poor, but that only matters if handwriting eis essential to operating in society, which it isn't.
  
  The use of the calculator from early age means that one's arithmetic may be poor, but that only matters if mental calculations are essential to operating in society, which it isn't.
  
  The queston is - what needs to be learned? Certainly not handwriting or mental arithmetic. There are other aspects of education that need to be taught that are far more important than these trivial, outdated methods.
  
  Furthermore, the learning of these other aspects will be accelerated thanks to the use of calculators, keyboards, online news, social networking, etc.

• A comment on Conversation: Instead of old age homes and orphanages in separate facilities, the combination of both should be built.

  Nov 3 2011: This is a good idea because it will benefit both parties.
  
  For elders, it will give them the joy of raising children once again. Often, grandparents love their grandchildren more than the actual parents because the grandparents miss the times in their lives when they were raising children.
  
  For children, it will give them the wisest of mentors to learn from. Furthermore, children will learn the pain of loss from an early age, which is very important for maturity.

• A reply on Conversation: Should we allow animals to have rights?

  Nov 3 2011: I was beginning to think that you simply had a few holes in your logic until your last answer.
  
  God? Come on, man.
  
  Don't bring the rule of religion - something that no one agrees on - into this talk.
  
  Talk only from the perspective of someone who would like to see the world become a better place.
  
  I would have no trouble refuting all your points with arguments I have already explicitly stated above, but I am not going to put the effort in for someone who cites the bible in a debate.
  
  Re-read my entire argument, and maybe you'll be able to prove yourself wrong after doing so.
• +3

  A comment on Conversation: "Morality" is an abused term/concept. Can you suggest a solid definition?

  Nov 3 2011: Morality is a constructed membrane for social action.
  
  There is no true morality and immorality, just as inductive reasoning is not perfect.
  
  Morality is the ever-changing set of rules on how we should act if we, as individuals and as a society, are to prosper.
  
  Murder is indeterminate. Murder of an individual who, if not murdered, would cause serious detrimental effects to society, is moral. Murder of an individual who, if not murdered, would cause serious benefits for society, is immoral.
  
  A problem lies in what is 'detrimental' or 'beneficial' to society. Once we as a society begin to formulate a unifying theory on what these two words embody, we will be able to define our morality.

• A reply on Conversation: Should we allow animals to have rights?

  Nov 3 2011: Hi Salim.
  
  Your debate with Gerald largely revolves around our entitlement to be predators. I will quote my response:
  
  "I believe many people feel that we are justified in killing animals for food in the same way that Savannah predators are justified in killing their prey. This is false. We, unlike Savannah predators, are now technologically advanced enough to build a system whereby we can acquire essential nutrients without the murdering of other sentient beings. If you are not satisfied with eating high-protein vegetarian food, we still have no excuse for not financing research of meat synthesis."