I will be attending the Convergence08 conference in a few weeks, so in the spirit of the topic I want to jot down a few notes concerning the Singularity. First of all, let me start by describing what I have to come to understand as the Singularity. The Singularity was proposed by Vernor Vinge in a 1993 essay titled The Coming Technological Singularity. There he suggests that technological change is occurring an ever-increasing rate that we will soon (near future) tap the physical limits of the universe. But in doing so, we will come to understand the universe so intimately that we will develop technologies that allow us full control of our own existence.
I first encountered this idea in Ray Kurzweil’s book The Singularity is Near a few years ago (given as a gift by my good friend David Macaluso), and fell in love with the topic. The book discussed mind-digitization, human fusion with technology, nano technology, and raised interesting thoughts about genetics, evolution and death. I read this book at a time when I was also researching topics like quantum computing, teleportation and dabbling in the philosophy of human nature, evolution and consciousness. Needless to say, the book played a role in shaping many of my views today and how to look into the future.
But as with any new and fascinating topic, the novelty wore off and time brought perspective and a critical eye. And that’s where I have been for the past few years. Fascinated, but critical. Yet, I find myself defending the ideas of the Singularity quite vigorously. Not because I am fully convinced of their validity. But because the issues that they raise seem to be playing an ever increasing role into our lives.
In defending Singularity research, I find myself answering the following the points.
- The Singularity is not possible. The premise assumes that we will be able to understand everything about the human brain and human biology and the universe. History shows that whenever we think we have a holistic view of the universe, science reshuffles everything again.
Even if the singularity is not possible, it is an interesting topic to discuss for the questions that it raises about philosophy and technology. We are shaped by technology every day. Technological advances have spread across the world and have influenced every significant culture in the world. There have been few things throughout history that transcended and influenced all cultures of the world as rapidly as recent technological advancements have – take for example, the cellphone. If for no other reason, that seems to be a good reason to think long term of what we, as a species, seem to be building.
- Even if it’s possible, I disagree with the overall vision and don’t want to support it. (i.e it feels like a new religion with technology at it’s center)
There are many things I don’t like about the Singularity. It raises very uncomfortable questions about humans, nature and our place in the universe. One thing that it does not do is dictating the direction of where technology is taking us. We are all part of a system that is taking us in the direction that the Singularity is pointing us towards. It is our modern economy in finance and technology research that is powering this machine.
- Even if it’s correct, I don’t want to support these ideas. It might be a self-fulfilling prophecy.
We would have to change more than just wacky futurist ideas to prevent us going down this path. The institutions and research powering our world are based on the belief that “progress” must continue to sustain our way of living. If we are concerned of possibly “losing our humanity” then we need to be willing to give up many of our modern niceties – which is a topic that also interests me and enjoy entertaining. But I believe that it is not a self-fulfilling prophecy. It a building of foresight. And it’s best to have thought about the complications of these issues before we have to deal with them directly.
Another book, which I just recently acquired – and recommend for pragmatic view of technogical change – is Francis Fuyikayama’s Our Post-Human Future, where he addresses specific political ramifications of the change we are experiencing.