Why do we always assume hostility in the unknown

[Denny Crane!]

Why do humans automatically assume that the unknown will be hostile?

Beyond reasons of superficial entertainment there is genuine fear that artificial intelligence would be a threat to ourselves. We assume alien civilisations would automatically react with hostility to ourselves.

This raises some interesting questions about what causes hostility. Is intelligence one step away from violence? I see no pertinent reason why a computer with no desires, no need to preserve its life or insecurities would visit violence on something else.

Even something as simple as the need to replicate is biological and driven by genetics.

I'll write a bit more on this tomorrow.

[Scar Face]

Its fairly obvious to me why Humans deem the unknown as dangerous; we are natural predators, we were also prey to other animals in the past, and we have a very competitive nature, in terms of territory, mates, game, etc. In the past, the unknown was almost certain death. An enemy tribe that would drive your own out, a predator that you've never seen before, etc. Humans are use to the kill or be killed attitude of Earth, it is within our genetic code to see this as one of the most [if not the] simplest rule of life. No matter how advanced Humans become we can never deny our instincts, they are the driving factors behind our society and our Civilization, and they always will be.

[Medicus]

Its fairly obvious to me why Humans deem the unknown as dangerous; we are natural predators, we were also prey to other animals in the past, and we have a very competitive nature, in terms of territory, mates, game, etc. In the past, the unknown was almost certain death. An enemy tribe that would drive your own out, a predator that you've never seen before, etc. Humans are use to the kill or be killed attitude of Earth, it is within our genetic code to see this as one of the most [if not the] simplest rule of life. No matter how advanced Humans become we can never deny our instincts, they are the driving factors behind our society and our Civilization, and they always will be.

Quoted for truth.

It's a natural reaction, Seneca; the fight or flight response.

Personally I have trouble understanding why people feel that way. If the AI was truly advanced, would it not recognize life as life? Why would it destroy life for no reason?

It's always irked me in Science Fiction how robots and AIs destroy humanity or whatever race created them. Don't they recognize them as their creator; in effect, their God? Why hasn't this been explored?

[Dayman]

Beyond reasons of superficial entertainment there is genuine fear that artificial intelligence would be a threat to ourselves.

Personally I have trouble understanding why people feel that way. If the AI was truly advanced, would it not recognize life as life? Why would it destroy life for no reason?

[Sleeper]

My first reaction would be good business in approaching the unknown.
My second would be everything is violence, as energy taken or given, regardless, is as violent a process as exists, right down to the quarks.
My third would be humans attribute their own reactions to all things, and from a natural perspective, it is hard to argue that violence is not one of the more likely reactions from any other organism, biological or artificial, conscious or not.
My fourth would be, I look forward to where you take this.

[Scorch]

Please try to keep discussion here on topic.

[Sher Khan]

In the most simplest terms...

The unknown can either kill you or not kill you.

Not killing you is pretty cool, I guess. Killing you is not. There's no room for error, and no varying degrees of being killed.

Therefore it's safer to fear and avoid it altogether.

[Ummon]

In the most simplest terms...

The unknown can either kill you or not kill you.

Not killing you is pretty cool, I guess. Killing you is not. There's no room for error, and no varying degrees of being killed.

Therefore it's safer to fear and avoid it altogether.

[Jabberwock]

It's always irked me in Science Fiction how robots and AIs destroy humanity or whatever race created them. Don't they recognize them as their creator; in effect, their God? Why hasn't this been explored?

How can something that can be immortal have a mortal god?

[Medicus]

How can something that can be immortal have a mortal god?

Humanity as a whole, and we're getting off-topic.

[Jabberwock]

Humanity as a whole, and we're getting off-topic.

Well, AI is part of this unknown, right?

I really don't think AI will destroy humanity. But it could prove itself as something much superior.

[Medicus]

Well, AI is part of this unknown, right?

I really don't think AI will destroy humanity. But it could prove itself as something much superior.

Oh, certainly.

Eventually these AI might set themselves up as mankind's "protector", a la I, Robot(the movie, not the book).

[Sleeper]

AI is a time machine. It is late, forgive the briskness.

[Jabberwock]

AI is a time machine. It is late, forgive the briskness.

It can be quite useful in that aspect, I think.

[Spurius]

And the fact we're neotenous opportunists sans par, makes we come up with proverbs like 'the safest way to catch a snake is with someone else's hand'.

Or send an army of youngsters, of course.

[Sidmen]

We always assume hostility because we always assume the worst. Which is because the worst usually happens.

[Ummon]

It suffices that it may happen. As Sher Khan aptly pointed out, the disadvantages of trusting and being wrong are infinitely superior to the advantages of trusting and being right (or disadvantages of not trusting and being wrong).

[Spurius]

@ Sidmen

That's not exactly true. Usually *nothing* happens, which is survivable. Also unexpected pleasantries we will survive.

Disaster, maybe not. It's just hardwired in every animal to always be ready for the worst-case scenario, which is why we have adrenaline - flee or fight.

A lot of animals essentially only have 3 mental states, asleep, full alert and all-out panic, with very little in between.

Big mistakes you can only make once.

[Chaigidel]

basically I agree with most of the others -- we fear what we dont understand because it allows us the necessary caution to preserve our lives.

[Denny Crane!]

I was aware it was fear of the unknown what I was really pondering was what makes things like violence a part of the human spirit. Could an AI with no genetics develop violent thoughts without it being programmed, are we as humans completely ruled by genetics?