Michio Kaku "Physic of the Impossible"

[Keith P]

I'm watching this guy on c-span right now and he's focusing on different classifications for technologically advanced civilizations.

He's suggesting that we're moving towards a type 1 civilization. What's intriguing is that he points out that terrorism and conservative ideology at present is the natural rejection of our advancement into a type 1 civilization.

His basic tenants mandate that it will be multicultural, progressive, and sort of global socialist society. Technological aspects include a society that can harness natural energy and colonize nearby planets/moons/etc. Funny enough he does suggest that English will be the common language of this world. While we might face backlash against moving into this type of world he suggest that it is inevitable both in terms of social and technological progress.

Really brilliant guy and he's proposing some interesting ideas here. You guys would recognize him from a plethora of specials on the history channel etc. right now.

Think I'll go pick the book up. Here's the link to it on amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Physics-Imposs.../dp/0385520697

[BrandonWhat]

Yeah, he's definitely my favorite History Channel character and his presence and input on the Universe I always appreciate.

Sounds like he's one of those damned socialists. He must be destroyed.

THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!!

[Funkenstein]

Yeah, I do recognize the chap.

Not world-shattering talk, but a good discussion nonetheless.

English as THE language. That kinda scares me.

Very few people speak it (English) in a proper manner as it is. Do we really want to embrace the thought of "Idiocracy" becoming a reality in the future?

[BradH]

I've read his Hyperspace and Beyond Einstein books.... good stuff. The dude is awesome to listen to as well -- I think there are various videos of him on Youtube and such.

[MC Twinkie]

I'm pretty sure no one knows what a type 1 civilization is, or any other # civilization for that matter. So there is no way anyone can argue against it. So me that's a sign of BS. Make up some BS, put it in a book, make money. Its sad really.

[paigesauce]

Originally Posted by BradH

I've read his Hyperspace and Beyond Einstein books.... good stuff. The dude is awesome to listen to as well -- I think there are various videos of him on Youtube and such.

Hyperspace is one of my favs.

[BradH]

Originally Posted by clay donkey

I'm pretty sure no one knows what a type 1 civilization is, or any other # civilization for that matter. So there is no way anyone can argue against it. So me that's a sign of BS. Make up some BS, put it in a book, make money. Its sad really.

Have you read any of his stuff before?

And I am pretty sure Kaku didn't 'make up' the Type I, II, III, ... civilization labeling, I think it was developed by someone else and is pretty accepted as far as 'guessing' about the future and other civilizations and such. And putting achievements on a much much larger scale than just gunpowder and simple space flight. It has its place.

Kaku is a well known theoretical physicist and most popularized by his string theory work and other stuff Einstein was working towards. This isn't some random dude talking on Art Bells radio show or whatever

just sayin =-)

[PETA]

The anglosphere is, collectively, the most advanced culture in terms of government, technology and standard of living the world has ever seen. The language is global now. It is the official (or one of) langauage of many states. It is the international langauge of trade and is replacing french as the diplomatic language. Perhaps most importantly in the near future... its the language of the internet.


"His basic tenants mandate that it will be multicultural, progressive, and sort of global socialist society." Of course he does - he's a leftie who presumes progressive politics is better because change is always good. He's a leftie he presumes multiculturalism is inherently good... what's he think about the billion Muslims who treat women as property? Is that somethign we should incorporate? What does he think about the N.Koreans and Chinese cultures who view their citizens as property? Multiculturalism is a sham... globalist societies would either have to incorporate many diverse forms or impose standard forms... think that say Brazilians would like Saudi Arabian notions of female modesty? How about the other way around? The west represents the greatest hope for the greatest number for the greatest amount of freedom and highest standard of living... if we want to drag the world kicking and screaing into modernity it should be emulating our societies.... that's not multiculural.

[Funkenstein]

Originally Posted by xian

Multiculturalism is a sham...

Oh really?

/looks in mirror at America

[PETA]

Originally Posted by Sexual Chocolate

Oh really?

/looks in mirror at America

America has its own culture... some mock it as no culture... but it is still American

we have carve out communities but we regard them as separate from American culture... and we do not promote that, we tolerate it.

[Funkenstein]

Originally Posted by xian

America has its own culture... some mock it as no culture... but it is still American

We are the biggest cornucopia of everything in the history of ever. American is the name we have given it, but it IS multicultualism at its finest/worst.

EDIT: Okay, I caught the edit. We do "tolerate" more than promote it, but we truly are the biggest ongoing experiment since evolution.

[PETA]

Originally Posted by Sexual Chocolate

We are the biggest cornucopia of everything in the history of ever. American is the name we have given it, but it IS multicultualism at its finest/worst.

EDIT: Okay, I caught the edit. We do "tolerate" more than promote it, but we truly are the biggest ongoing experiment since evolution.

there's a reason we use the term melting pot Brian.... we incorporate a variety of forms into out own... but it s our own.

Multiculturalism carves out cultural neighborhoods (some would call thme ghettos) within the culture at large and protects them from assimilation into broader mainstream culture. We encourage (less so more recently - last 30 yrs) assimilation into mainstream American culture.



The American Experiment... see de Tocqueville and Democracy in America... nearly 200 years old now and still incredibly prescient

[Funkenstein]

Originally Posted by xian

The American Experiment... see de Tocqueville and Democracy in America... nearly 200 years old now and still incredibly prescient

I'm familiar with it by proxy only, I'm sad to say. I will pick it up, though.

About the smaller niche communities, we have spent since Brown v Board of Education with one group trying to "assimilate" into a greater whole. The whole of the 70s was a push to incorporate the lower/middle class into the bigger picture and then the 80s destroyed all of that by making the divide greater.

The period between the boom of internet startups and the bombing of America was the closest we ever got to being "together". We are making separate lives all over again, IMHO. The only thing actually unified is the music industry (leading to relevance to this board and this part of the rant).

They are the only ones outside of the military making money in these times.

[PETA]

Originally Posted by Sexual Chocolate

I'm familiar with it by proxy only, I'm sad to say. I will pick it up, though.

About the smaller niche communities, we have spent since Brown v Board of Education with one group trying to "assimilate" into a greater whole. The whole of the 70s was a push to incorporate the lower/middle class into the bigger picture and then the 80s destroyed all of that by making the divide greater.

The period between the boom of internet startups and the bombing of America was the closest we ever got to being "together". We are making separate lives all over again, IMHO. The only thing actually unified is the music industry (leading to relevance to this board and this part of the rant).

They are the only ones outside of the military making money in these times.

Sorta, it has been avowed policy to assimilate immigrants into mainstream culture. The African American experience has been wholey unique.

Still, we don't try to insulate and protect immigrant communities such that their culture is merely transplanted to a new geographical location. Multiculturalism would do that. We adapt and adopt as necessary from immigrant communities as we assimilate them into the mainstream... very non multiculural. IMO... it is a very cosmopolitan cultural technique despite the ironic criticism of Europeans such as the french who do create cultural ghettos and by law create barriers to adopting cultural forms from other groups... language police etc.