7 September 2018 - HPLD 2

Is Lem’s HPLD society truly at the highest possible level of development? These beings have mastered every possible technological skill, but they all live on a single planet. What feats are within your ability depends not only on your knowledge, but on your resources: They are not at the highest possible level of economic development, because they chose not to climb the Kardashev scale. Human civilization will not make such an elementary blunder. Economic growth is our driving imperative. If we meet this wimpy HPLD society and they refuse colonization, our weapons will make short work of them.