Bob,
I think you may be misunderstanding me somewhat.
First of all, I'm not saying your vision of some kind of "techno-eutopia" (if I may call it that) is impossible, but I am skeptical that it is achievable - or that it won't result in some other harmful unintended consequences - or that it won't set us up for failure in some other unforseen way in the future.
Secondly, to acknowledge that we have (individually and collectively) certain inate limitations to how much of "reality" we are able to perceive is not being negative or pessimistic - it is being realistic.
What makes us not very "smart", in general, is that we largely fail to acknowledge that these limitations exist at all (I daresay that even suggesting the human mind has limitations is enough to ruffle many people's feathers).
Do you not see the paradox of our "progress"?
What has enabled us to achieve these successes is also at the root of some of our most dire problems and uncertainties.
The energy and industrial apparatus that enables the creation of our technology poisons our world.
The antibiotics we use to save lives have contributed to overpopulation and the evolution of antibiotic resistant bacteria.
Genetic modification helps feed an overpopulated world but at the risk of making our food supply more fragile and we know not what else.
Etc.
Who anticipated the consequences of these developments?
Some few individuals sure, but why were their warnings not heeded?
Does this not say something about the "smartness" of the "human anthill"?
That we tend to not see this paradox, but focus on the "successes" is dangerous to us all - we must use more wisdom.
My view in this regard isn't a "low esteem" of the human race, it is just that I realize how faliable we are and that, ultimately, there is no "safety net" to catch us when we fall.
Ugo Bardi made an interesting post a while back in a similar vein:
http://cassandralegacy.blogspot.ca/2012/12/the-unknown-unknowns-of-monoculture.htmlNassim Taleb's books
"The Black Swan" and
"Antifragile" are also very interesting reads.