While everyone in the computer industry, and I would even go so far as to say, as a result - everyone in the world - owes Bill Joy a huge debt for his contributions to the world, I think it would be unfortunate if he were appointed to such an office.
And I find myself sad to say that.
But...
Most people will remember that he has demonstrated a serious degree of pessimism prior in his Wired OpEd, "Why the future doesn't need us".
The debate this sparked result in Joy being quoted and interviewed many times. His decidedly dim view of unchecked technological advancement became quite clear.
He has openly endorsed the idea of an international body that would have oversight and could control scientific research and experimentation everywhere.
In Dyson's rebuttal he mentions Milton's speech, Areopagitica, which while an argument for free speech, has strong parallels with regards to scientific inquiry.
While it is frightening the long list of dangerous things that we can do to ourselves and the world, it is also _equally_ exciting and encouraging when these things are applied in a beneficial manner.
We have already experienced, for hundreds of years, a world where scientific inquiry was stifled by various organizations. And in fact, similar organizations today continue to threaten and have even succeed in pushing back research (ex. stem cell research).
It is difficult to see how Bill Joy, given his stated views, would help to bolster us forward both in terms of simple advancement and also with regards to our international competitiveness.
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While everyone in the computer industry, and I would even go so far as to say, as a result - everyone in the world - owes Bill Joy a huge debt for his contributions to the world, I think it would be unfortunate if he were appointed to such an office.
And I find myself sad to say that.
But...
Most people will remember that he has demonstrated a serious degree of pessimism prior in his Wired OpEd, "Why the future doesn't need us".
The debate this sparked result in Joy being quoted and interviewed many times. His decidedly dim view of unchecked technological advancement became quite clear.
He has openly endorsed the idea of an international body that would have oversight and could control scientific research and experimentation everywhere.
This was rebutted by Freeman Dyson shortly afterward, "The Future Needs Us!".
In Dyson's rebuttal he mentions Milton's speech, Areopagitica, which while an argument for free speech, has strong parallels with regards to scientific inquiry.
While it is frightening the long list of dangerous things that we can do to ourselves and the world, it is also _equally_ exciting and encouraging when these things are applied in a beneficial manner.
We have already experienced, for hundreds of years, a world where scientific inquiry was stifled by various organizations. And in fact, similar organizations today continue to threaten and have even succeed in pushing back research (ex. stem cell research).
It is difficult to see how Bill Joy, given his stated views, would help to bolster us forward both in terms of simple advancement and also with regards to our international competitiveness.