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Message: <blockquote data-quote="historian" data-source="post: 3762859" data-attributes="member: 13438">Hey paradox42, I have been limiting myself largely to the Galactus vs. Reed vs. Doom debate.  It's a bit more accesible to testing although I would be the first to admit it's not the only comparison one could make.Although I wouldn't so I've based my opinion solely on comic books. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f61b.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":p" title="Stick out tongue    :p"  data-smilie="7"data-shortname=":p" /> Absolutely, it is a broad ranging philosophical debate at its crux.This is where we diverge but you do a nice job of clearly stating the issue.I can understand the logic and the leap you are making.  However, it's a proposition that is presently untestable as far as I can tell.  Therefore, I believe reasonbable minds can differ.I think Ltheb's idea about cognitive limits vs. physical limits helps to draw out the point.The lower the physical limit is, the more easily I could accept the argument that a mortal's cognitive limit could push until the physical limit is reached.  The higher the physical limit, the less I am able to accept the idea of a mortal's limitless technological potential.I am no scientist, even at an amateur limit although I have stumbled across an AI book by Kurzweil called the "Age of Spiritual Machines."  It's been several years since I've reviewed it so bear with me through a lay rendition of something.The book deals largely with technology predictions and where AI is going.  Kurzweil poses an interesting distinction though regarding what higher intellect might be.  In one sense, intelligence is one's ability simply to process information.  If the highest mind is simply the ability to process the information faster and faster and better and better then it's conceivable that sometime in the very near future we may max the intellect scale through AI.However, Kurzweil also acknowledges the possibility of a categorically different higher mind.  One that is unattainable irrespective of what information is available at any processor speed.Of course, it's for the reader to decide what's what.  My leaning is towards the existence of a "higher" consciousness.In the meta sense you're absolutely right.However, by comparison, Galactus' technology is generally well ahead of mortal and in many cases immortal technologies.This is another area where I think Ltheb's ideas about the physical limit is helpful.If the ceiling to the physical limit of technology is lower (relatively speaking) then it's perfectly plausible to think that at some point the mortal finds himself on the same page with the metahuman.  Because there is no "other page" then the mortal has technology unsurpassed.At higher physical limits my argument would remain mortals simply won't get there no matter how much time they are allowed.  With augmentation anything might be possible.  I'm no expert here but my inclination is certainly to think about evolution in more linear terms.  Maybe not perfectly linear, but linear nonetheless.As best I can tell evolution simply better enables a species to survive.  To the extent it does that regardless of circumstances it would seem a higher state to me.I dare say I haven't missed anything.A "GOD" machine, eh.</blockquote>

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