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Vecr 3 days ago

In a more general form too, and one that I think might be more realistic (depending on the ultimate limits of technology):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berserker_hypothesis

TeMPOraL 3 days ago | parent [-]

It's not more general, it's more specific. Berserker hypothesis is basically grey goo that goes interstellar. The Dark Forest is about how lack of trust, unpredictable technological jumps, and speed of light being dog slow, force civilizations to preemptively destroy any other civilization they spot, while themselves trying to not get discovered.

Berserker event is effectively an implementation detail of one of possible events in the Dark Forest.

Vecr 3 days ago | parent [-]

I disagree. I think the conditions to get a game theory style setup going are quite specific. Always "defecting" against everything (with no warning) and clearing outwards as fast as you can is probably converged upon along many paths, from many starting points, as long as the physics allows it.

Like Wikipedia says, Dark Forest is for people who are limited in tech and resources. Or have a weird sense of ethics, but ask Robin Hanson how long he thinks that would last.