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Ray's argument against things getting complex would probably be something like: Why would things suddenly get "so complex" when the trend has been going on for millions of years.

Douglas Hofstadler (Godel Escher Bach author) says that perhaps humans aren't smart enough to understand and recreate consciousness.

Thanks for the Aubrey De Gray reference. Found a video interview of him here: http://bloggingheads.tv/diavlogs/16508

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Why would things suddenly get "so complex"

That's the nature of exponentials. It will look like we have a lot of headroom to spare, but in a couple of steps - wham.

Exponential doubling run backwards: 100% - full. 50% - one step earlier. 25% - two steps earlier.

Two doublings before the limit, you look around and see 75% room to grow into - why would there suddenly be a problem, there's so much room for manoeuvre, stop worrying.

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