From: jimruttshow8596
This article explores the profound impact of technology on societies and individuals and the evolution of human civilization design, drawing insights from philosopher Alexander Bard.
The Human Drive to Create Technology
Alexander Bard’s “Grand Narrative Trilogy” posits a foundational assumption about the evolution of human intellect and technology:
- Woman gives birth to child [00:05:12].
- Man envies woman for giving birth to child [00:05:16].
- Man therefore gives birth to technology [00:05:21].
- Since technology develops over time and children do not, technology will one day defeat the child [00:05:25].
This perspective suggests that human civilization is progressing towards a future where machinery or technology will either surpass or significantly complement humanity, leading life in a new direction [00:05:42]. Humanity retains influence over this progress [00:05:57].
The Atomic Bomb: A Turning Point
The atomic bomb is cited as a pre-existing machine capable of destroying humanity [00:06:05]. August 6, 1945, marks a critical date, as it confirmed humanity’s capacity for self-annihilation [00:06:09]. This realization prompts the search for an alternative path to avoid extinction [00:06:21].
Symbiotic Intelligence
Instead of “artificial intelligence,” the term “symbiotic intelligence” is preferred, emphasizing that technology is inherent to humans [00:06:27]. Humans are now considered homo technologicus, not merely homo sapiens [00:06:37]. The goal is to design technology to benefit humanity [00:06:45].
Rewriting History and Narratives
Bard’s third book, “Process and Event,” aims to rewrite the history of ideas [00:07:21]. It argues that most significant human ideas emerged during the Bronze Age, setting the conditions for civilization [00:07:38]. Subsequent technological evolution primarily made it easier to manage large populations within existing civilization frameworks [00:07:47].
Logos vs. Mythos
- Logos: The factual truth of what actually happened [00:08:45].
- Mythos: How humans tell stories about facts, incorporating fantasy and imagination to understand what it means to be human [00:08:50].
- Myths are invented and projected onto history and fantasies of the future [00:09:10].
Game A vs. Game B: Exploitation vs. Implotation
Game A, a dominant paradigm, was based on the idea of infinitely exploiting the world [00:09:34]. In contrast, “implotation” (a concept from Bard’s “Netocrats”) suggests that a resource cannot be used unless it is replenished [00:09:47]. Civilization must shift from exploitation to implotation for sustainability [00:09:54].
Origins of the Modern World (Game A)
Around 1700, three key developments converged to create the modern world:
- Limited government (Glorious Revolution, 1688) [00:10:40].
- The invention of science (17th century) [00:10:45].
- Modern finance (Bank of England, 1694) [00:10:58]. These enablers led to rapid population growth (650 million to 8 billion) and significant technological evolution, including the Industrial Revolution [00:11:44].
The Flaw of Game A
Game A’s fundamental flaw is its lack of brakes, driven by an inner loop of short-term financial returns and the demand for exponential growth [00:12:17]. This conflicts with the reality of a finite world [00:12:54].
Historical examples of technological evolution and their Impact
- Printing Press (1450): A significant revolution that, combined with European exploration, led to the world as we know it [00:13:05]. Literacy empowered elites, as demonstrated by Napoleon’s army [00:13:24].
- Elon Musk’s Mars Ambition: Critiqued as an exploitative idea, as humanity hasn’t even fixed the planet it lives on [00:14:03].
The Fermi Paradox and Human Intelligence
The Fermi Paradox questions the existence of other intelligent civilizations [00:14:51]. It’s possible that humanity is the first and only general intelligence in the universe [00:15:24].
While humans are “just barely” generally intelligent, relying on external devices like the alphabet and Arabic numerals to augment “feeble cognitions” [00:17:15].
McLuhan’s Influence and Beyond
Marshall McLuhan’s ideas on information technologies are acknowledged [00:18:28]. However, it’s argued that these technologies act as “portals” enabling other developments like science, self-governance, and modern finance, similar to the Cambrian explosion in biological evolution [00:18:47]. These developments are often contingent historical outcomes [00:19:53].
Avoiding Utopian Thinking
Utopian (and dystopian) thinking is viewed as a dangerous trap, stemming from dualist worldviews found in Abrahamic religions [00:20:51].
Monism vs. Dualism
Western philosophy, particularly with figures like Spinoza and Leibniz, began to break from the dualistic tradition (mind/matter separation) towards a monist worldview where everything is interconnected [00:22:14]. Eastern philosophy (e.g., Zen Buddhism) inherently embodies this monist view [00:24:15].
Protopianism: The Alternative
“Protopianism” (a term coined by Kevin Kelly) offers a dynamic alternative to static utopias or dystopias [00:24:43]. It means continuously deconstructing and rebuilding the world, seeking slight daily improvements [00:25:21]. This iterative approach is crucial for good engineering and societal progress [00:25:28].
Utopianism, as exemplified by Rousseau and its extreme manifestation in Pol Pot’s regime, is dangerous because it seeks a “perfect” world by eliminating perceived corruption, often leading to totalitarian violence [00:26:32].
Game B as a Protopian Experiment
Game B is conceived as an exploration of high-dimensional design space for living, with multiple parallel “proto-B” experiments [00:28:36]. Key principles include:
- Living in balance with nature and implementing regenerative practices [00:28:55].
- Rejecting money-on-money return as the sole metric [00:29:02].
- Prioritizing human well-being and self-actualization [00:29:10].
The “3-3 transition” proposes cutting energy consumption by two-thirds while increasing human well-being by a factor of three [00:30:35]. This involves investing in commons and community, adopting “voluntary communism,” and incorporating built-in holidays and shared activities for subjective well-being [00:31:42].
This shift represents an “exodus” from a paradigm of exploitation to one of implotation, reimagining human life and society [00:32:40].
The Importance of Voluntary Participation and Membranes
New communities must be voluntary, allowing individuals to easily join and leave (“open membranes”) [00:33:04]. This prevents totalitarianism, where opting out is not an option [00:33:17].
Urban planning often fails by dictating life, leading to dead spaces [00:33:28]. A protopian approach, inspired by figures like Jane Jacobs, allows organic emergence and nudging, like letting people create pathways before paving them [00:33:55]. Brasília is cited as a utopian architectural project that failed to account for human behavior, leading inhabitants to organically create vibrant spaces contradictory to the original design [00:37:04].
The concept of membranes, similar to biological membranes, highlights semi-permeable boundaries where information can flow in and out with effort [00:38:20]. This allows for diverse proto-B communities with specific “protocols” for living, such as choosing to restrict smartphone use for children [00:39:26]. This is critical for parents to enforce rules without imposing external costs on their children [00:41:51].
Technological evolution and societal impact: Anarchy, Pluralarchy, Order
New technologies initially cause disruption and anarchy [00:43:40]. This transitions into a “pluralarchy,” where a few individuals or groups figure out how to use the technology to their advantage, becoming leaders [00:43:49]. Their successful models can then be mimicked by others, leading to a new order [00:44:20].
Technology as a Pharmakon
All technology is a “pharmakon” – simultaneously a remedy and a poison [00:40:51]. Nuclear technology can destroy humanity (atomic bomb) or save it (fusion power) [00:40:57]. The ultimate outcome depends on how humanity chooses to use it [00:41:07].
Pathos and Ethos in Civilization Design
Beyond Logos and Mythos, Bard introduces Pathos as the realm of sex, violence, the subconscious, and raw human drives (rivalry, envy) [00:51:30]. Pathos is never harmonious or balanced and must be acknowledged and dealt with, unlike the suppression attempted by Christianity and Islam, which can lead to destructive outbreaks [00:51:58].
Ethos (pure ethics, not morality) is about identifying with one’s thoughts, speech, and actions to constructively engage with the world [00:53:15]. Inspired by Zoroastrianism, Ethos emphasizes accepting the past as necessary (“amor fati”) while embracing the future as contingent and full of freedom for co-creation [00:53:50]. This constructive mindset, “ashavohishta,” guides daily actions to benefit fellow human beings and the world [00:55:38].