Technology as lens to ponder imperfect future – David Friedman

In a century-old former farmhouse in San Jose, David Friedman http://www.daviddfriedman.com/ is a living paradox who writes about the promise and perils of futuristic technologies even as he collects medieval weapons and other artifacts from the past.

The 63-year-old Friedman, who earned a doctorate in physics but teaches law at Santa Clara University, is the author of a new book, "Future Imperfect: Technology and Freedom in an Uncertain World."

As the son of the late economist Milton Friedman, he takes a laissez-faire approach to technological advances, arguing that they could lead to a range of outcomes from the beneficial extension of human life spans to the possible extinction of the species.

Tom Abate, Chronicle Staff Writer

Full Story: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/28/BUDO12VA1F.DTL