Newton Lee Quotes

Transhumanism seeks to achieve super longevity, not at the expense of others but rather helping others to fulfill their lifelong dreams.

Whether we live 10 years or 10,000 years, what matters most are the meaning of life and the quality of life.

The most precious thing that people can give to one another is not money but time.

The meaning of life is manifested in many different ways—infinite diversity in infinite combinations.

Life needs a meaning and living requires a purpose. Without meaning and purpose, are the livings really alive?

If Buddhism and Hinduism are correct, the extraordinary achievers who reach nirvana will never be reincarnated, whereas the less accomplished and less desirable humans are being reincarnated again and again—which would explain the never-ending suffering and ever-increasing evil in the world. No wonder Socrates’ last words in Plato’s Apology were “I to die, and you to live. Which is better God only knows.”

Boredom often stems from the lack of desire to reinvent oneself. To become a Renaissance man or woman, for instance, can take an eternity. Understandably, not everyone wants to be a polymath, but there are so many great books to read, places to visit, ideas to share, new hobbies to discover, and charities to volunteer for – the bucket list is practically endless.

The most meaningful toys are not materialistic at all. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart died penniless, but his toys were his symphonies, concertos, operas, quartets, and sonatas that have delighted millions of people for hundreds of years and will continue to light up the world.

Albert Einstein achieved immortality, just like Socrates did. Life with a purpose leads to immortality.

Super longevity is not the same as immortality. Sometimes one has to sacrifice super longevity in order to achieve immortality.

With the help of AI in advancing our civilization, there may come the day when, as Nick Bostrom notes, we cannot be sure that we’re “not already in a machine”.

It may be true that superintelligence has nothing to do with human intelligence. However, superintelligence can be a new kind of intelligence that is more advanced than human intelligence.

Like a good doctor, an intelligent machine is not something we should be afraid of. At best, AI will provide us the smartest teachers, advisers, personal assistants, doctors, police officers, judges, peacekeeping forces, and first responders for search and rescue operations. It may even help us to colonize other planets. At worst, it will put us on a leash to prevent ourselves from hurting one another and destroying the planet.

Humans may be on top of the food chain, but we are still at the mercy of earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes, volcano eruptions, and other natural disasters.

Elon Musk is afraid that “if our intelligence is exceeded, it’s unlikely that we will remain in charge.” Perhaps humanity would be better off if humans were not in charge. Imagine a government being run by a supercomputer with superintelligence—effective, efficient, nonpartisan, nonracist, nonsexist, incorruptible, unbiased, resourceful, and available 24/7 to serve everyone of its citizens!