Thursday, October 18, 2007
Social Singularity
Social Singularity: Part One.
http://www.atlanticfreepress.com/content/view/2579/81/
Social Singularity: Part Two: Freedom
http://www.thomasbrewton.com/index.php/ ... ndly/1161/
Social Singularity: Part Three: Hobbes/Locke Social Contracts vs Social and Technological Singularity
In conclusion: To over-simplify, and to keep this short, Hobbes' and Locke's works (regarding social contracts) were basically the
philosophical foundation of the Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution, The Federalist Papers, Thomas Paine's works and many other documents upon which this nation (America) stands. This philosophy arose from several prior historical events, among which were changes in the social and political contracts which led to the
Magna Carta and the Mayflower Compact.
Believe it or not, Islam's incursions into Europe during the centuries prior to this period, as well as it's powerful influence in North Africa, the Mediterranean and the Eastern Atlantic during the 1500's- 1800's, was a part of that process. In centuries past, such changes often took, well, centuries. Presently,these changes are taking a matter of decades, even
mere years and months.
In this century, similar 'scale changes' in society will occur even faster, and perhaps, with even further disruption than ever before in known history.
Events are moving beyond the scope, control, or narrative of any single man or single group of men.
So...no matter what happens, in America, you need to know that we're basically working' from a foundational philosophy that is several hundred years old. It's going to need a little tweaking and fiddling to bring it all up to date. My own meager - and thus far unrecognized - contribution is a part of that process...as are Bill Hibbard's works. (You can google him.)
Now, in the work enclosed below, you'll find that Hibbard examines the impact of artificial, human enhanced and machine intelligence on our social and political contracts. Keep in mind that some scholars and scientists claim that
the internet has already become a form of human intelligence enhancement. You'll also notice that my previous entries into this arena address the impact of the internet on human 'enhancement,' and, directly and indirectly, upon the social/political contracts once addressed by Hobbes and Locke.
Technology will change everything you know and understand. Culture, society,economics, business, religion, science, education; you name it. It all changes...dramatically. It is all changing, even now. If we don't happen to blow ourselves to hell and gone, the next ten to twenty years may bring the world towards universal dystopia ("1984" with a bad attitude) ...or as close to universal utopia as we'll ever see in the real world. The end result is up to you, dear reader...and to you alone.
Bones
Posted by Drew Emmer at 3:35 PM
