undefined | Better HN

0 pointsABCLAW9y ago0 comments

>We didn't. Los Alamos is pretty busy this time of year. So is Sarov.

Relative investment and manpower on the issue has plummeted. I can't get into more specific details.

>We had. And also, we were smart enough to put these papers on the shelf and not proceed with them.

As the other commentator to the post makes very clear, the definition of 'progress' needs to be made clear. If it is increased understanding in a field of knowledge, then the statement I highlighted indicates you and I share the same viewpoint: maybe sometimes it is better to just stop learning more about a topic.

If the definition of progress is all increased understanding in a field of knowledge which is good, then progress is tautologically good.

Unfortunately, since the two definitions are similar, the term is very frequently used to launder advancements of their ethical consequences.

0 comments

atemerev9y ago

> Relative investment and manpower on the issue has plummeted. I can't get into more specific details.

I can. Of course it plummeted since the end of the Cold War, but it raised again in the last 3 years, for obvious reasons. The US is lagging behind (not for long), but other nuclear powers are frantically resuming relevant activities.

> maybe sometimes it is better to just stop learning more about a topic.

It isn't. Methods of learning might be unethical (and thus are not advisable to be pursued), but knowledge itself is beyond ethics.