planetary-surface reaction layers

A useful counterpoint to organism-centricity, and in particular to the media's xenophobic focus on "aliens" from outer space, may be the idea that life (like that on earth) is to first order a fascinating steady-state reaction-layer between a planetary surface and the high-energy photon bath provided to that surface by the nearest star. Moving of that reaction off planet e.g. to a neighboring planet, to space habitats, or even to a star system elsewhere may, in that context, be much easier said than done.

The possibilities are of course certainly worth exploring. If taking care of our own planet is a leap for us, terraforming a nearby one is a bigger leap (that we may never manage unless we recognize the challenge), and the energy requirements of travel between star systems (even though relativity helps with time-elapsed for the traveler) make it hardly cost-effective for transferring organisms like us. Transfer of molecular and/or idea codes, on the other hand, e.g. over 10⁵ year time scales via radiation-pressure ejected nanoparticles or over 10 to 1000 year time scales by electromagnetic communication, may be another story.

AI and income

The question of survival for individuals displaced by automation comes up with increasing frequency these days. Perhaps task layer multiplicity is a concept which can clarify our thinking to these ends.

In particular, if our communities depend on correlation-buffering on all six layers that look in/out from skin, family, and culture, it makes sense that participation in one or more of these layers is a tangible contribution. In fact, a "universal-minimum income", linked explicitly to an individual's participation in such layers, might serve as a healthy complement to the current system which focuses exclusively on what you are doing only for folks who have money.

As with all such programs, development of tools to minimize draining of resources by "defectors" will likely be a long-term and imperfect process. However if implemented in a constuctive way, such a program might enlist the support of participants from a wide range of places in our economy.

What do you think?