Friendly reminder to readers - right click on hyperlinks in this text and scroll down to 'open in new tab' if you want to keep reading and have easy access to the info/music in another other window. Also, a quick word of caution:
Some violence and nudity in the Masamune links.
On with the show:
Originally, this post was going to be titled 'integration vs. overspecialization' - but I think the two titles are are related in a way that's worthy of a few moments' reflection. Who has time for reflection when there are mouths to feed and bills to pay? This monetary system-free market capitalist economy information based global society is leaving little time for reflection to anyone but graduate students in philosophy- and who listens to them?!! Hmmm... (If you're online and tuned in, the sheer volume of information you could conceivably process in a day, in infinite directions, is almost beyond imagining). Which leads me to consider the human concept of the 'cyborg' as 'us', and also to ideas related to synchronicity, serendipity, pattern recognition, spirit, magic, science, and religion online. I've recently become a fan of an British/Indian scholar Kenan Malik. The title 'Man, Beast, and Zombie' jumped out at me whilst looking for Jung's 'synchronicity' among the psychology stacks I used to sometimes haunt in McPherson library. I picked it out, amused by the title, with thoughts about the coming holiday of All Hallows' Eve in mind. The chapter title 'expelling the ghost from the machine' caught my eye - as I remain captivated by concepts in Gibson's 'Neuromancer' and Shiro Masamune's 'Ghost in the Shell''Turing test', but may or may not be truly 'conscious' based on the idea of 'intrinsic intentionality'. This may seem academic and pointless in your day to day life, until you realize that in more ways than one at this point in history and with truly amazing speed of ongoing development, 'the machine is us'. It has been posited by many that the speed of scientific development has outstipped the capacity of human beings to keep up on spiritual and psychological levels. Kenan suggests that "The triumph of mechanistic explanations of human nature is as much the consequence of our culture's loss of nerve as it is of scientific advance." Has our culture lost it's nerve? Which culture? Pluralistic relativism is a wonderful multiplicity of innumerable distractions. A primordial soup of possibilities - much like the internet. Charles Jonscher mentions in his book 'Wired Life' that the largest processor chip has ten million wiring connections. The human brain, by contrast, has over 80,000. This is like having twenty billion computers in your head!! Suddenly the notion of 'intrinsic intentionality' and its connection to various conceptions of spirituality in philosophical+monastic traditions seems a lot more meaningful in cyberspace. With empirical verification of complexity beyond human understanding wired right into our thoughts!! Most excellent. So if we had a computer as sophisticated as the human mind, would it be conscious? Would it have a spirit? Or is it that human culture will be obliterated by the pace of it's own hyper-development by the time we can develop such a machine - we will in fact BE the machine - ripping itself to pieces in the name of 'progress'. One last question: Is it not that the internet is already such a machine, and our entire planet a Kosmic spaceship hurtling through space with the majority of the human race 'hooked up' to the cybernetic (sub?)consciousness? This of course has geographical+racial implications based on connectivity (world internet stats). manga animation movie. 'Ghost in the Machine' refers to Gilbert Ryle's 1949 derogatory description of Descarte's mind/body dualism in the book 'Concept of Mind'. Malik opens by describing the 1996 battle of world chess champion Gary Kasparov against 'supercomputer' program Deep Blue in a human vs. machine battle of 'wills'. Kasparov won the battle, but was defeated the following year by a more powerful version of the Deep Blue program. In 'fighting to save the dignity of mankind' Kasparov was 'psyched out' and crumbled in the face of a power beyond his ability to comprehend/outwit. Is this a defeat for mankind, or a triumph, in that it was a human being that made Deep Blue possible? Will Deep Blue replicants replace us human beings? I'm somewhat fascinated by the concept of a 'Zimbo' - which in my understanding is a self-conscious android which can pass the
I find myself agreeing with a certain colleague/classmate that my blog should be about finding gainful employment and related to my professional status - but - if we're not making time to reflect and connect with Nature here at this 'Kosmic Nexus' in space/time - now more than ever - how can we make any meaningful contribution to 'culture' beyond a headlong rush into oblivion? So far 100% of people on my blog-poll have agreed that our culture/society/world is unsustainable based on current trends. I daresay if there were more than 7 results this would remain pretty much the case!! If you're tuned into notions of 'peak oil' and the American/global economic situation (widely criticized supermassive irreconcilable debts based on fractured inherently flawed systems of usury and social imbalance with ongoing endless WAR the only viable solution) you know that a momentous system crash/change is coming - and it's not that far off based on current trends of consumption. It's doesn't have to be 'the end of the world' so much as the genesis of something radically new.
<<<Ps.Afterthought: I'm not specifically in favor of radical change/anarchy - social chaos is usually no good at all for social justice. Stability is good for people, society, and cultures - it just seems for a variety of reasons that 'radical' systemic change is simply necessary, inevitable, and already (always+continuously?!) happening(!!) at this point...>>>
Specialists are vital to society - but overspecialization (as suggested many years ago by Masamune) is slow death - not only for us - but for future generations yet unborn. The trouble with overcoming this is that integrated, integral philosophies in practice require THE ASSIMILATION OF HUGE AMOUNTS OF DATA!! Stressful because of human time constraints. There are answers, and there is currently a race to find viable solutions. I'm thinking that science in all facets, the integration of science and the humanities, and First Nations views on spirituality - offer some interesting solutions. But the answers must come simultaneously from all corners - and they are...and this is exciting and deliriously hard to follow. From every concentric circle, every raindrop in the pond of the human Universe as now conceived, "in synchronous unity, simultaneous occurrences that are meaningfully related"(Jung). Every holon in the holarchy, if you like. If this sounds like balarcky, let's just say I'm not the only one. In a variety of terms, circles, and traditions around the world this kind of thought is a growing trend among highly informed, educated, connected people, and for good reason. Check out the MAIS program if you like - I was recently involved and it's a brilliant online educational space. I hope to possibly continue studies there in future. So why am I 'wasting time' doing a B.ed instead of going straight for the M.a or an M.ed as some of my friends have done? Besides the fact that it's an Awesome program with Awesome instructors? There are good reasons - I am on the right track - but I've gone on long enough here and that's another story for another time. I'm going to classify myself as an 'integrationist' - which means (among other things) I am both 'spiritual', and scientifically based in rational thought and judgements on experience and subjective data and perception in all forms. It also means I hope to gradually integrate the trichotomy of my professional life as teacher/musician/writer here in this space. Bring on the cynics, skeptics, nihilists, Atheists and debt-mongers. I'm ready...
<<<Ps.Afterthought: I'm not specifically in favor of radical change/anarchy - social chaos is usually no good at all for social justice. Stability is good for people, society, and cultures - it just seems for a variety of reasons that 'radical' systemic change is simply necessary, inevitable, and already (always+continuously?!) happening(!!) at this point...>>>
Specialists are vital to society - but overspecialization (as suggested many years ago by Masamune) is slow death - not only for us - but for future generations yet unborn. The trouble with overcoming this is that integrated, integral philosophies in practice require THE ASSIMILATION OF HUGE AMOUNTS OF DATA!! Stressful because of human time constraints. There are answers, and there is currently a race to find viable solutions. I'm thinking that science in all facets, the integration of science and the humanities, and First Nations views on spirituality - offer some interesting solutions. But the answers must come simultaneously from all corners - and they are...and this is exciting and deliriously hard to follow. From every concentric circle, every raindrop in the pond of the human Universe as now conceived, "in synchronous unity, simultaneous occurrences that are meaningfully related"(Jung). Every holon in the holarchy, if you like. If this sounds like balarcky, let's just say I'm not the only one. In a variety of terms, circles, and traditions around the world this kind of thought is a growing trend among highly informed, educated, connected people, and for good reason. Check out the MAIS program if you like - I was recently involved and it's a brilliant online educational space. I hope to possibly continue studies there in future. So why am I 'wasting time' doing a B.ed instead of going straight for the M.a or an M.ed as some of my friends have done? Besides the fact that it's an Awesome program with Awesome instructors? There are good reasons - I am on the right track - but I've gone on long enough here and that's another story for another time. I'm going to classify myself as an 'integrationist' - which means (among other things) I am both 'spiritual', and scientifically based in rational thought and judgements on experience and subjective data and perception in all forms. It also means I hope to gradually integrate the trichotomy of my professional life as teacher/musician/writer here in this space. Bring on the cynics, skeptics, nihilists, Atheists and debt-mongers. I'm ready...
If you've read this far, I applaud you. I may shimmy to another hyperlink later to publish writings - short stories, academic papers of note, and humorous anecdotes from the far reaches of distant star systems... Sailin' on to Higher Ground...with indestructible energy...
"'It's very good jam,' said the Queen.
'Well, I don't want any TO-DAY, at any rate.'
'You couldn't have it if you DID want it,' the Queen said. 'The rule is, jam to-morrow and jam yesterday--but never jam to-day.'
'It MUST come sometimes to "jam to-day,"' Alice objected.
'No, it can't,' said the Queen. 'It's jam every OTHER day: to-day isn't any OTHER day, you know.'
'I don't understand you,' said Alice. 'It's dreadfully confusing!'
'That's the effect of living backwards,' the Queen said kindly: 'it always makes one a little giddy at first--'
'Living backwards!' Alice repeated in great astonishment. 'I never heard of such a thing!'
'--but there's one great advantage in it, that one's memory works both ways.'
'I'm sure MINE only works one way,' Alice remarked. 'I can't remember things before they happen.'
'It's a poor sort of memory that only works backwards,' the Queen remarked."
'Well, I don't want any TO-DAY, at any rate.'
'You couldn't have it if you DID want it,' the Queen said. 'The rule is, jam to-morrow and jam yesterday--but never jam to-day.'
'It MUST come sometimes to "jam to-day,"' Alice objected.
'No, it can't,' said the Queen. 'It's jam every OTHER day: to-day isn't any OTHER day, you know.'
'I don't understand you,' said Alice. 'It's dreadfully confusing!'
'That's the effect of living backwards,' the Queen said kindly: 'it always makes one a little giddy at first--'
'Living backwards!' Alice repeated in great astonishment. 'I never heard of such a thing!'
'--but there's one great advantage in it, that one's memory works both ways.'
'I'm sure MINE only works one way,' Alice remarked. 'I can't remember things before they happen.'
'It's a poor sort of memory that only works backwards,' the Queen remarked."
-Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland.
Wow!J!
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to find a place to start... When I finished reading this (twice)I'm wondering if you are talking about what it is to be whole and to have the capacity to embrace perspective when the presence of technology that has permeated our lives could potentially manipulate "highly informed, connected, educated" people to believe that it is primitive/ignorant to consider that which we cannot quantify (- spirit, grace, wonder, doubt) but may be more precious than that which is measured (wealth, power, access) We cast off notions which we consider to be childish, naive, and even dangerous but these may provide the humble foundations which sustain that which we define as a life worth living. It's getting late this may not make sense or maybe I need to crack open Neuromancer.
Thank you for your thoughtful post Kathreen. 'The presence of technology could manipulate...people' is interesting. Like it has intrinsic intentionality or is forcing human masters/controllers to make certain decisions. I'm quite fascinated between the relationship between human and machine. Is it not the greatest folly of childish naivety to cast off 'spirit, grace, and wonder' when considering the 'miraculously improbable' gift of human life and existence? My post was conceptually dense - information overload is a hazard of this generation - a necessary risk some sacrifice to gain 'access'. To what exactly, and at what cost? Breathe and rest. Important stuff. Imagine you're an 'enlightened' alien race monitoring the planet Earth. What would you think?
ReplyDeleteBetween...between? Nice one English major. "DOUBT" I missed this one. Self reflexive moments and 'Emotion recollected in tranquility'(Wordsworth). Self-knowledge is pretty integral to helping others and leading a higher quality of life. Are we (am I) doing the right thing? A person (or race) that never pauses to ask this question is headed for disaster. A cautionary tale. I (personally) would like to see humanity evolve to a higher potential than at present - there are ongoing injustices for which there is simply no excuse anymore, and a growing number of people know exactly what is really going on, thanks in part to hyperconnectivity...the 'how' of the change is the tricky part!!
ReplyDelete