2008 Woodie Awards
Part II: Interview With Dr. Duncan
Continued From Last Week's Article: Eternal Life For Everyone: No Church Membership Required!
Karina Mc Cabe
Issue date: 11/12/04 Section: Features
- Page 1 of 3 next >
SANDSPUR: What is the likelihood that these inventions will be accessible to all? Meaning, will the impoverished be able to afford this technology, or will it widen the social gap when only the rich will be able to produce funds for an eternal life? Moreover, what kinds of effects will this create within the lower classes?
DR.DUNCAN: "Technology is not inexpensive, so not everyone can have it... [there are] already problems with the [economic] gap" and it is our "...incumbent responsibility in our society to reach down and help the less fortunate... [because] to those whom much is given, much is expected." However, Dr. Duncan maintains, "Rather than view this as widening gap with 'haves' and 'have nots' (considering that certainly the wealthy have an advantage)... [there is] also have ability to raise standards for all. Is it likely? I think it is, if we approach a time where the most common reason for death is violent." "I think we need to move away from being a punitive society...[it] doesn't have to be totally egalitarian, but technological advances would have a lot of reasons to lift those to higher standards."
SANDSPUR: The spread of such technology can have a disastrous impact, particularly if belligerent nations get a hold of it and implement it in war. Obviously, the nation with an army of indestructible robots will win. How, then, will this impact the structure of our global society? Will it be the same case as the Cold War where neither nation chose to detonate the atomic bomb because no expert could ascertain that the results were guaranteed? Or, do you predict a global annihilation?
DR. DUNCAN: Indeed, Dr. Duncan agrees: the spread [of this technology] in society could have disastrous effects... will we survive ourselves? ...will we kill ourselves? ...it's certainly a possibility." He compares this situation to that of when he worked with nuclear engineers: "...no one ever thought that they were designing weapons to win a war... all thought that they were designed to keep us from ever going to war again... no one would ever imagine a 'winnable' global war." These inventions, though dangerous did not prove disastrous as once predicted. In fact, as Dr. Duncan points out" ...the last 50 yrs was the most peaceful. It was just unimaginable that we could have the world at war with nuclear weapons spread among the superpowers. Today they are less of a threat-much more of a threat as use as terrorist weapons." Today, though, he says, "Biotoxins have tremendous potential for disaster." As do "genetically engineered diseases... [humans have] no built in immunities to rely upon."
DR.DUNCAN: "Technology is not inexpensive, so not everyone can have it... [there are] already problems with the [economic] gap" and it is our "...incumbent responsibility in our society to reach down and help the less fortunate... [because] to those whom much is given, much is expected." However, Dr. Duncan maintains, "Rather than view this as widening gap with 'haves' and 'have nots' (considering that certainly the wealthy have an advantage)... [there is] also have ability to raise standards for all. Is it likely? I think it is, if we approach a time where the most common reason for death is violent." "I think we need to move away from being a punitive society...[it] doesn't have to be totally egalitarian, but technological advances would have a lot of reasons to lift those to higher standards."
SANDSPUR: The spread of such technology can have a disastrous impact, particularly if belligerent nations get a hold of it and implement it in war. Obviously, the nation with an army of indestructible robots will win. How, then, will this impact the structure of our global society? Will it be the same case as the Cold War where neither nation chose to detonate the atomic bomb because no expert could ascertain that the results were guaranteed? Or, do you predict a global annihilation?
DR. DUNCAN: Indeed, Dr. Duncan agrees: the spread [of this technology] in society could have disastrous effects... will we survive ourselves? ...will we kill ourselves? ...it's certainly a possibility." He compares this situation to that of when he worked with nuclear engineers: "...no one ever thought that they were designing weapons to win a war... all thought that they were designed to keep us from ever going to war again... no one would ever imagine a 'winnable' global war." These inventions, though dangerous did not prove disastrous as once predicted. In fact, as Dr. Duncan points out" ...the last 50 yrs was the most peaceful. It was just unimaginable that we could have the world at war with nuclear weapons spread among the superpowers. Today they are less of a threat-much more of a threat as use as terrorist weapons." Today, though, he says, "Biotoxins have tremendous potential for disaster." As do "genetically engineered diseases... [humans have] no built in immunities to rely upon."