The God Particle
“When you make something [a] fetish, ashes and dusts will laugh at you, because they know even the most valuable fetishes will turn into dusts and ashes!” ~Mehmet Murat ildan
Since the Industrial Revolution modern societies have gradually succumbed to a strange psychological attachment that we perhaps consciously ignore, but cannot subconsciously deny. For centuries nations and peoples have sought for the hidden treasure that would lead to prosperity and immortality this side of the universe; we assumed that by finding that one special thing all of humanities problems could be resolved. We’ve tried the philosophers stone, alchemy, ancient treasure, stock options, money, even magic — but none of them seemed to have worked so far. For a while it seemed like hope was lost. That is until technology came along, and it seems we’ve found our philosophers stone, alchemy, ancient treasure, stock options, profitability opportunities and magic all-in-one. God was dead, but we have revived him; part computer, part A.I., part something else, in his wisdom he will save us.
Although in some respects this may be more or less exaggerated, the essence of it all isn’t far from the mark. Since industrialization global societies have been running on a high in an effort to compete with one another for the new fools gold; technology. It defeats the purpose for me to get technical by flooding this post with all sorts of historical facts, figures and statistics to explain what is already obvious. From an economic point of view technology has infinitely enhanced the productive capabilities of nations, made life more convenient and comfortable, and has helped solve some of our most pressing problems. In the age of the internet we feel the effects of these technological changes more immediately and so are more sensitive to the disruptive qualities technical innovation possesses. And being emotional creatures, though disruption makes some of us feel uncomfortable we are eager, in many cases, to sing its praises simply for its novelty — esp., in the entrepreneurial or technological industries. However, much like stock market capital, the rational mind risks losing itself amongst the collective euphoria. Technology is a hot option today, but today won’t last forever. And in a faster paced, globalized world whose rapid introduction has been accompanied by equally rapid dilemma’s that will force humanity to either perish or thrive together, we must look beyond the niche that is tech. While facing the future and attempting to brainstorm ways we can resolve critical problems — poverty, climate change, health, quality education, etc. — we shouldn’t forget that it was also our technological ‘genius’ that created some of these same predicaments which threaten the future.
However this has largely been forgotten, instead we’ve fetishized technology and its significance in our lives. The general anticipation is that, like alchemy was to the middle ages (euphoric pseudo scientists and prophets searched for the universal elixir that would turn base elements into gold), so is technology to the new millennium; the solution to all our problems — political, economic, social or otherwise. The over-emphasis which has been placed upon the phenomena is almost astounding; we’re obsessed. Right now any reasonably minded politician in Washington who loves their job, or at least the perks that come with it is thinking about the consequences of robotic workforce's and their effect upon the general labor force— i.e., their voting constituency. And business moguls in Silicon Valley are busy contemplating the profitable but fortuitous result of artificial intelligence upon their bottom lines. And the media, probably for lack of anything else to talk about, collectively raves upon the next tech trend like crows on a carcass. The point is that the globe has not arrived at this point — although it is arguable whether “this point” is positive or negative — because technology brought us here but the other way around; we have brought it. It is not about the technology we create, but how we use it as a means to an end that matters. It is upon this that our future depends.
Like money, technology is not the great equalizer; it is only a tool. Just as some of our modern dilemma’s were created by technology, they can also be exacerbated by them. If, like money, we forget the essence of its character, our baser natures will compromise the potential that any technological innovation may have and subvert us to the same political, economic, social, cultural and ecological perversions which necessitated the creation of global goals in the first place. While the future necessitates we be innovative in order to make it better, our inventiveness must extend beyond the technicalities of computers, A.I. and the internet — gadgets alone won’t solve things like climate change (if it all), it will require something more. It’s simple, technology is not God, we are. The innovation of the mind controls the next chapter more than any technical one. This means recognizing that technology isn’t an isolated incident; while a robotic workforce sounds cool for Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and their investors (it reduces costs significantly, among other things) what happens to the global economy upon which such companies depend if over 80% of the worlds population lives in poverty (currently at least 80% of humanity lives on less than $10 daily)? Or what good is rapid technological disruption if its reach remains relatively isolated both geographically and socially?
“Before you become too entranced with gorgeous gadgets and mesmerizing video displays, let me remind you that information is not knowledge, knowledge is not wisdom, and wisdom is not foresight. Each grows out of the other, and we need them all.” ~ Arthur C. Clarke
For the 21st century to succeed it will take more than complex technological gadgets; it will take a reinvention of the human mind, a new ethic and a Renaissance-like hunger for experimentation and creativity.
While technology will indeed be part of this picture, human ingenuity will be required to resolve the sociopolitical, economic and cultural debacles that hinder us in the present. The future of itself will not be better than the past a priori; we could just as easily make it worse. Thus while technological disruption continues to unnerve yet excite us, we shouldn’t forget the ultimate truth: technology is not our savior, we are.
Computers are useless. They can only give you answers. ~ Picasso
