The Speculist

There's a Reason

why Glenn Reynolds is the number one blogger. It isn't just that he's a fast typist. A sampling from his latest Tech Central Station piece:

Would I like to be smarter? Yes, and I'd be willing to do it via a chip in my brain, or a direct computer interface... And I'd certainly like to be immune to cancer, or AIDS, or aging. But these ideas threaten some people, who feel that our physical and intellectual limitations are what make us human.

I don't know whether I believe this. Which limitations, exactly? Would humanity no longer be human if AIDS ceased to exist? What about Irritable Bowel Syndrome? Was Einstein less human? If not, then why would humanity be less human if everyone were that smart? It may be true, as Dirty Harry said, that "A man's got to know his limitations." But does that mean that a man is his limitations? Some people think so, but I'm not so sure. Others think that overcoming limitations is what's central to being human. I have to say that find that approach more persuasive.

Right on the money, Professor. I believe the struggle that's shaping up in this world is going to take place between those who believe that we should be defined by our limits — and who have restrictive and pointless notions as to what those limits are — and those who refuse to be so defined. I don't think I have to tell you which camp the Speculist and the FastForward Posse are in.

After reading this piece, the latest in a long series of highly readable and though-provoking essays, I did something I should have done a long time ago: I dropped a few electronic coins into Glenn's tip jar. I urge you all to do the same.

UPDATE: the Speculist earns its first major blogosphere distinction: Phillip Coons has named this post today's shameless Reynolds suck-up! I'm not sure whether this is like being included in Taranto's Best of the Web, or whether it involves a cash prize, but hey — either way, I couldn't be more thrilled.

Ironically, I wasn't really even going for a suck-up thing. I just got a huge kick out of Glenn's piece and then got a little carried away. I do that.

But none of that matters. The point is, we're number one!

Posted by Phil at August 6, 2003 02:16 PM | TrackBack