04-27-2012, 11:00 PM | #1 |
Join Date: Nov 2011
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Religious Prohibitions Leading to Safe-tech
I'd like to construct a society which is safe/retro-tech using a method similar to Dune's religious prohibition of certain technologies. In this case bio-tech, advanced computers (past, say, vacuum tubes), and cybernetics. However if possibly I'd like this to evolve or be interpreted out of preexisting commandments rather than being a reaction afterwards as the Butlerian Jihad was. However I'm not sure how to phrase the commandments and what theological bases they should come from.
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04-27-2012, 11:14 PM | #2 | |
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: NYC
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Re: Religious Prohibitions Leading to Safe-tech
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Such a thing could be why such theological concerns exist, or general luddites? I don't know. As to how to phrase it? *thinks* "The realms invisible are the realms of God, and man should not trespass on His Workings."
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04-27-2012, 11:38 PM | #3 | |
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Dallas, TX
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Re: Religious Prohibitions Leading to Safe-tech
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04-27-2012, 11:46 PM | #4 |
Join Date: Nov 2011
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Re: Religious Prohibitions Leading to Safe-tech
I'll have to check that out. Still it sounds like it was a doctrine developed after such technology was developed. Also spam reported.
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04-28-2012, 12:07 AM | #5 | ||
Join Date: Dec 2007
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Re: Religious Prohibitions Leading to Safe-tech
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I Quote:
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04-28-2012, 12:20 AM | #6 | |
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Oregon
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Re: Religious Prohibitions Leading to Safe-tech
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04-28-2012, 12:26 AM | #7 | |
Join Date: Nov 2011
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Re: Religious Prohibitions Leading to Safe-tech
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There have been debates on ensoulment for a long time however much of the current beliefs while they have an earlier basis are a response to scientific development. I'm thinking of a much more strongly worded basis developed before anyone knew such things were possible. It also offers nothing to restrict computers without AI. I don't consider modern religious beliefs to be necessarily unsuited for inspiration in this regard but they do need modification, if for no other reason then that the society in question is not Catholics in Spaaaaaaace! Last edited by Sindri; 04-28-2012 at 01:15 AM. |
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04-28-2012, 12:33 AM | #8 | |
Join Date: Nov 2004
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Re: Religious Prohibitions Leading to Safe-tech
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04-28-2012, 03:21 AM | #9 |
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Huntington, West Virginia
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Re: Religious Prohibitions Leading to Safe-tech
You could start with the Islamic and Judaic prohibitions against "graven images" and expand that even further. Have the prohibition cover any sort of mimicry of human or animal forms, and extend it to their mental functions as well. If humans and animals cannot be depicted in any way this effectively makes biotech impossible, and even biology as you cannot record animals to study them and any observations must die with the observer. Limiting the mimicry of the mind stifles computer power to basic data storage and calculation, or completely stymies it if you so desire. Cybernetics wouldn't work without a functional knowledge of biology, and even so, cybernetic limbs are a mimic of existing limbs and are thus anathema.
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04-28-2012, 06:02 AM | #10 |
GURPS FAQ Keeper
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Kyïv, Ukraine
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Re: Religious Prohibitions Leading to Safe-tech
Prohibition against use of symbols by non-humans. A computer uses bits as symbols, so they're out.
A another's soul is a mystery; it is a grave sin to attempt unravelling it. Thus, study and/or practice of Psychology, Brainwashing, Propaganda, Anthropology, Detect Lies, Sociology and Body Language, as well as admitting to rely on Empathy or Intuition to understand others, is persecuted by the Inquisition. |
Tags |
computers, low-tech companion 1, religion, retro-tech, safe-tech, science fiction, transhuman space |
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