That was a quality discussion. It helped that the dissenting opinion was a physicist with reasoned arguments rather than a religious nutjob (I encounter a lot of “debates” like that).
I have to admit I only made it halfway through before losing interest. I’m all for a thorough discussion, but it was getting pretty dry and in the weeds about who wrote/said what and when. I definitely agree with one of Jones’ core arguments that technological progress is no longer following the same rapid trajectory that it has been for decades, and that may or may not be exacerbated by the fact that many “easy” discoveries are behind us.
Personally I think we’re in a lull period. Throughout history technological advancements happen in spurts. They talked some about Moore’s Law and some physical limitations we’re approaching which may stagnate progress, but I think minimum transistor size is an overblown issue. When we hit a wall like that we usually develop laterally until we find a new avenue. I feel that novel energy storage media are going to be the linchpin that sets off the next acceleration.
Usually I avoid discussions like this. “Transhumanists” having a philosophical conversation about the trajectory of “The Singularity” seems so detached and fanciful that I feel irresponsible feeding into it. I have problems with other self-identified Transhumanists as well. It always seems like a big 'ol intellectual circle jerk, but no one’s doing anything. I dunno, maybe that’s why I’m here. I’m not inclined to identify as a transhumanist, but you said it right that we all are. I just feel like you can’t claim to be one, you just de-facto are one.