Essay Abstract

What better perspective of humanity's destiny than viewing the present as the future's past? A hundred years from now, what will they say about the difficulties of the twenty-first century, and how they were overcome? This 'interview' is a different kind of answer to the question of how humanity ought to steer the future - using a little bit of fiction and creativity. However, its topics are serious - AI, the future economy, and our role as interplanetary explorers. As author I've aimed this at the non-academic category, but would be very pleased for this to be considered in competition with academic entries.

Author Bio

Ross Cevenst is a small-time web dev and tech guy living in Perth, Western Australia. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons), but is assured that with proper therapy he will be able to recover and lead a relatively normal life. Ross' philosophy web site can be found at http://citizenearth.altervista.org and he can be contacted at the-citizen at safe-mail dott net. Ross believes that humanity's actions today will profoundly shape the story of Earth for thousands of years to come. No pressure or anything. Don't ask me I only work here!

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Hi Ross,

thanks for sharing you vision of the future, a clever way to bring in important issues such as the need for reinventing of the economic system and the potential benefits and risks of AI. An epic tale of the becoming of a new "cyborg", interplanetary mankind who retains the heart and mind of a human and lives alongside AI. Reminded me in parts of "Do Robots dream of electric sheep." I wonder though if the AIs are fearless whether that makes them more dangerous rather than less, as part of the self control of humans is based upon fear of social sanctions or disapproval or other negative consequences.

Thought provoking. Georgina

    Ross,

    Thank you for the essay. The topic for this round of essays is open-ended. I like the fact that you took this in a different direct (I think it is different, yours is the first essay of this contest I have read). This could be a nice science fiction story. Your overall concept seems to be based on governments being always good and corporations always "bad". There have been many "bad" governments throughout history.

    I don't know if I would take the great risk in starting a company (most fail) if I didn't care about making a profit. It also takes a lot to run and win an office, very few do it for free.

    All the best,

    Jeff Schmitz

      Ross -

      A wonderful essay - really fun to read and plenty to think about. The idea of human rights for human beings caught my attention, though. How do we defined what is "human" if non-human machines (and species for that matter) share in consciousness, feelings, empathy, desire .... What makes us human?

      I'd be interested in your thoughts about my essay The Tip of the Spear. I've identified some of the same issues you are addressing, the control of our institutions, but from an evolutionary perspective. How do we create a fitness landscape for institutions that builds on empathy and disciplines negative behaviors?

      Thanks - George

        Thanks Georgina much appreciated, I hope you enjoyed it!

        Hi Jeff, thanks for the feedback! I definitely don't think governments are always good - I agree with 100% that there is endless examples of abuse of power in government. I think positions of power, both corporate and in government, are magnets for both the corrupt and the noble in equal measure! There are certainly many great entrepreneurs around the world that provide examples of the good that can be done when imagination and morality come together!

        I think for at least many of the great entrepreneurs of history, once they have made enough money to be comfortable, the motivation of helping humanity is a major factor. After all, what's more satisfying, a slightly bigger yacht, or being a key player in something that helps your nation and humanity? Certainly motivations vary and that's why we should have a mixed economy that harnesses varied motivations for humanity.

        'Community Business' as mentioned in the interview is part of a three way mix between traditional business, modest government and a much more sophisticated and thriving community. In my mind Community Business would be about enabling that entrepreneurial spirit in a larger pool of people, while discouraging the pursuit of riches purely for greed or the sake of social status. It is my belief that getting caught up in social status inhibits and distracts from greatness of character, morality and achievement - the kind of greatness that I think is a mark of the more moral entrepreneurs that shine throughout history.

        There is a little bit more (WIP) about Community Business on my website. http://citizenearth.altervista.org/business1.html

        http://citizenearth.altervista.org/business2.html

        Hi George,

        I haven't read your essay yet I'll be sure to do so soon!

        I'd probably argue that the basis of humanity, and for that matter morality, is genetic, though I think the expression of those things often involves cultural phenomenon like philosophy, religion and community. For me it still makes sense that we might conduct ourselves with a strong aversion to suffering of any kind, but I think that the survival of our species ought to come first. I've actually written some more detailed philosophy on this topic on my website:

        http://citizenearth.altervista.org/natureofmorality.html

        or

        http://citizenearth.altervista.org/dynamiccooperation.html if you haven't got enough time to read the context.

        It's a WIP mind you!

        I'll be sure to look at your article your premise sounds intriguing!

        George, you say:

        "How do we defined what is "human" if non-human machines (and species for that matter) share in consciousness, feelings, empathy, desire .... What makes us human?

        That's an interesting question, which is at the heart of a (part memoir, part speculative fiction, I guess) novel I'm just about to publish. (It's aimed at the 18-24 year old crowd, so maybe not that interesting to folks like us!) My own answer is that, as with everything in reality, the math is naturally fuzzy, but that the intention behind the question is where things matter most. What is the answer going to be used to decide? If we're talking about rights, then the answer it mostly irrelevant, and the real question is going to be more about what things do the individuals involved (animal, vegetable, or mineral) need to function as well as possible, so that they are able to contribute their best possible selves (as designed) to the world (and beyond!)? Those needs, for healthy functionality, are their "rights". Human, or otherwise.

        Certainly its an interesting question! Parts of the interview and some of the articles on my site explore human ethics as primarily genetic. This seems to avoid the pitfalls of moral relativity and also manipulation such as the kind in the story. IMO it also can be used to logically derive all of the intuitive moral decencies that are held in common to major philosophies and religions. Of course moral philosophy is a little verbose for comment sections :)

        Your book sounds like it will be interesting. It's a great thing to inspire deep-thought in the minds of the young. Good luck with it!

        Ross / Thuril -

        Wonderful thread, thanks. My own sense is that there is a dividing line at self-reflective sentience - the point at which an entity is able to evaluate the possible consequences of a choice on oneself and others. This would be the point at which free will mattered and where morality becomes relevant. I'm not sure whether this needs to have a genetic or biological basis - but there would need to be deep complexity in both the internal structures of such an entity and its inter-relatedness to both the physical world and to a social context. As in other emergent phenomena, it is difficult to see how such conditions can be "boot-strapped" - and perhaps this is where concepts such as quantum consciousness and/or the gift of a divine soul may come into play.

        With regards - George

        Mr. Cevenst,

        As a non-credentialed academically reader I not only found your essay to be easy to read, it also contained quite a number of insights that we all should pay more attention to.

        Regards,

        Joe Fisher

          Thanks very much Joe! Was there anything in particular that you liked? It's great to be getting such positive feedback in any case! Many thanks!

          Dear Mr. Clevenst,

          I thought your comments about artificial intelligence and "super smart devices" were especially adroit.

          Joe Fisher

          Thankyou indeed. I think its a common mistake for us technologically minded people to assume that mainstream technology development is primarily driven by utility. Utility certainly helps but marketing consdierations plays a huge part in what technologies are pushed out to the masses (consider the advanced nature of Unix as developed by comp scientists decades ago, and then the rubbish that has in many cases been pushed out to the masses over the years instead). I have no doubt that everyday AI, VR and the like will be shaped by similar forces - much to the annoyance of technology enthusiasts everywhere. So that little part of the story reflects that.

          Hey, that was nice, Ross! An entertaining blend of science fiction and fact, with plausible outcomes, given our present state of development. One can more appreciate the critical state of history we inhabit.

          Thanks for commenting in my own forum, and all best in the essay compeition --

          Tom

          Don't forget to rate my entry! If you're new to FQXi you received your voting code in an email from FQXi.

          I tried to read the essay portion after the dialog, but the prose was too purply, it was a real headache to read because instead of talking about the idea it keept invoking imagery that didn't really contribute anything to the argument... What were you trying to get at anyway? I didn't manage to figure out the point until my migraine drove me to something else.

            Others seem to like it, but you are well within your rights to dislike the style I chose. I'm not sure what the purpose of your comment is though, it seems deliberately pointless. Perhaps you dislike the message of my writing. I hope your headache clears up.

            Hi Ross, I must re-read your essay because I didn't finish my first reading. It wasn't that I had a headache at the time (unlike Alan, I hope he's feeling better now), but your interviewer didn't inspire trust in me. He seemed too uncritical of the society, which therefore came across as unauthentic. I'll give you a chance to reply, then re-read. - Mike

            Hi Mike,

            I think that's a good (and scientific) reaction to have. Anyone that isn't skeptical of visions of new societies doesn't haven't their thinking-cap fastened properly.

            On the other hand, in the context of the story, the interviewer is a journalist now actually living IN the future society, so in a sense for him there is empirical proof that the society does in-fact work. I assume for any of us, to arrive in the future and speak to one of its key-figures would probably result in a fairly uncritical reaction, and so that character reflects that.

            Rather than aiming for a dry proposal, I've chosen to use the story as a vehicle to convey a couple of what I think are original and important ideas, while also attempting to mix in an inspirational tone. Why? Because I want people to be aware of the challenges our future poses, but also excited about the possibilities. As you can probably tell I am a fan of how science-fiction does just that.

            On the other hand, the philosophical analysis the story is based upon is a result of careful and, I hope, unsentimental investigation into some of the problems facing humanity. If you're interested in the philosophy and thought behind the story, there is more information on my website. You can also present me with any questions you might have wished the interviewer had asked, and I can do my best to answer!