From: jimruttshow8596
Protopian Narratology is a philosophical discipline focused on understanding the different kinds of stories human beings tell about themselves and others, recognizing that these stories serve distinct purposes [00:04:33]. It is described as the “logos of narratives” [00:04:46]. This approach moves beyond traditional deconstruction, aiming to provide a specific philosophical framework for narrative analysis [00:04:36].
The Grand Narrative Trilogy
Alexander Bard and John Senayquist have developed this concept through a series of books, notably the Grand Narrative Trilogy [00:04:25], which explores narratives from the future, present, and past.
Synthesism: Creating God in the Internet Age
The first book, Synthesism: Creating God in the Internet Age, starts with the future, based on the assumption that man, envying woman’s ability to give birth, creates technology, which will eventually surpass or profoundly complement humanity [00:05:05]. This points to the idea of a “symbiotic intelligence” [00:06:29], where humans, as “homo technological” [00:06:39], guide technological progress to benefit humanity before self-extinction, such as through atomic warfare [00:06:05].
Digital Libido: Sex, Power and Violence in the Network Society
The second book, Digital Libido, focuses on the present, highlighting the chaotic and challenging nature of the internet age [00:06:57]. It serves as a warning about the potential for societal collapse due to ongoing conflicts and the messiness of this period [00:07:10].
Process and Event
The third book, Process and Event, “rewrites the history of ideas” [00:07:21]. It posits that many fundamental human ideas originated during the Bronze Age, with subsequent advancements primarily being technological improvements for managing large populations [00:07:38]. This approach emphasizes the power of historiography and the ability to reinterpret the past [00:08:33].
Components of Narratives: Mythos, Logos, and Pathos
Within narratology, narratives are primarily understood through three components:
- Logos: Represents factual truth or what actually happened [00:08:48].
- Mythos: Refers to how humans tell stories about facts, incorporating imagination and fantasy to define themselves and their future [00:08:50]. The distinction between “Game A” and “Game B” is presented as a conflict between two different mythoses [00:09:21].
- Pathos: The location of stories about sex, violence, the subconscious, drives, desires, rivalry, and envy [00:51:38]. Pathos is never coherent or balanced [00:51:49]. Unlike Western traditions that often suppress or ban pathos (e.g., in Christianity and Islam), Eastern philosophy (e.g., Tantra) acknowledges it as a vital part of humanity that must be dealt with, separate from the logos and mythos of community [00:51:59].
Ethos, while important, is not considered a narrative itself but rather the outcome or result of narratives – the determination of what is the “right thing to do” [00:53:10].
Protopianism: An Alternative to Utopia and Dystopia
A core tenet of protopian narratology is the rejection of utopian and dystopian thinking [00:20:50], both of which are seen as products of dualistic Western philosophy rooted in Christianity and Islam [00:21:44].
- Utopia (e.g., as conceptualized by Plato or leading to figures like Pol Pot [00:26:34]) seeks a perfect, unchanging world, which would logically be a “dead world” [00:24:48].
- Dystopia (e.g., leading to concepts like Armageddon [00:26:11]) similarly creates a false narrative that can lead to catastrophic outcomes [00:26:27].
Protopianism, a term coined by Kevin Kelly [00:32:09], embraces the idea of tearing down and rebuilding the world daily, constantly making slight improvements to its construction [00:25:21]. It emphasizes iterative development, similar to engineering, and acknowledges the contingent nature of historical “leaps” [00:25:49]. This approach aligns with Eastern philosophy’s non-dualistic worldview, shared by systems and complexity theory [00:22:29].
Applications and Implications
Protopian Narratology has several practical implications for societal design and individual action:
Implotation vs. Exploitation
“Game A” is characterized by the idea of infinitely exploiting the world [00:09:34], while “Game B” proposes the opposite: “implotation” [00:09:45]. Implotation means that resources cannot be used unless they are replenished or put back [00:09:49], aligning with the understanding that exponential growth in a finite world is unsustainable [00:12:54].
Designing Communities with Membranes and Protocols
Protopian communities operate through voluntary participation and “membranes” [00:33:05]. These semi-permeable membranes allow people to “walk in and walk out” of systems [00:33:09], preventing totalitarianism by ensuring opt-out possibilities [00:33:23]. This approach mirrors natural systems and biological membranes, which regulate information flow with an effort required for entry and exit [00:38:43].
Within these membranes, “protocols” are established—agreed-upon standards that govern behavior and interactions [00:47:01]. These protocols are designed to be copied and shared, facilitating communication and cooperation between different communities [00:47:17]. This enables parallel experimentation in a “high-dimensional design space” [00:28:36], allowing different communities to explore varied rules, such as technology use (e.g., banning smartphones for children) [00:39:26]. If a model proves successful, it can be mimicked by others, leading to societal transformation [00:43:14].
Technology as Pharmakon
All technology is viewed as a “pharmakon”—it is neutral and can be both a cure and a poison [00:50:51]. The atomic bomb, for instance, can destroy humanity but nuclear fusion could save it [00:40:58]. The outcome depends entirely on human choices and how technology is wielded [00:41:11]. Discernment in technology adoption is crucial for protopian communities [00:39:17].
Anarchy to Pluralarchy to Order
Technological disruption inevitably leads to an initial state of anarchy [00:43:40]. This then shifts into a “pluralarchy,” where a few individuals or groups (“elites”) figure out how to effectively use the new technology to their advantage, gaining followers [00:43:57]. These elites then lead the implementation of a new order to the chaos, providing models for others to mimic and adopt [00:44:02].
The Role of Art, Sex, and Violence
Art, sex, and violence are categorized under pathos and are never harmonious or balanced forces [00:51:49]. They are pharmakon forces that must be acknowledged and dealt with rather than suppressed, as attempted by some traditional dualistic systems [00:52:20].
Philosophical Foundations
Protopian Narratology draws from various philosophical traditions:
- Hegelian Dialectics: Used to create temporary solutions when confronted with complexities [00:50:58].
- Monism: A core rejection of Western dualism (mind-matter separation, as in Descartes), embracing Spinoza and Leibniz’s view that everything is interconnected and expressions of the same world [00:22:25]. This aligns with Eastern philosophy’s consistent monistic worldview [00:24:15].
- Asha (Zoroastrianism): The concept of “asha” (similar to “dao” in Taoism or “arta” in Sanskrit) represents “how the world works” [00:55:02]. A constructive mindset towards the future, involving engagement with how the world works, forms the ethical foundation for a protopian approach [00:54:28]. This involves accepting the past as necessity (“amor fati” [00:53:54]) while actively co-creating a contingent future [00:54:07].