3 ms·
> What do we do now? Well, if you look at (global) society as a dynamical system it seems to me that there are two stable basins or attractors, call them "Star
by carapace 4y ago
> What do we do now?
Well, if you look at (global) society as a dynamical system it seems to me that there are two stable basins or attractors, call them "Star Trek" and "North Korea".
In the "Star Trek" future the people in charge are themselves also subject to the panopticon, and the world is ruled fairly and humanely. (The other name I use for this is the "Tyranny of Mrs. Grundy".)
In the "North Korea" future there are (human or AI or hybrid) masters and brain-chipped cyborg slaves, and rule is absolute and enforced with digital precision.
(Of course, this is all predicated on the idea that we can't put the genie back in the bottle in re: ubiquitous surveillance. I think that's likely the case (although I do not like it) but I'm not going to make the argument here unless someone asks.)
Given the above the thing to do is work to make politicians subject to 24/7 total surveillance (ASAP, before everybody else) so we can keep an eye on them. This policy would also presumably weed out the crazies and corrupt, eh?
- lagrange77 4y ago> Well, if you look at (global) society as a dynamical system it seems to me that there are two stable basins or attractors, call them "Star Trek" and "North Korea". Nice analogy. Do you really believe, that us being on an utopian trajectory is realistic?
- carapace 4y ago> Do you really believe, that us being on an utopian trajectory is realistic? Oh yes. Very much so. In fact, by many measures we have been on an utopian trajectory for several centuries. Today even our failures are the result of unimaginable power. We have to learn to wield our power with wisdom. We have all of the physical technology we need already. We can practice regenerative agriculture that increases topsoil fertility and volume; we have methods of construction that can build housing for everyone; machines and factories that churn out the physical necessities of life; etc. We need only deploy our resources and technology efficiently. It's down to logistics now, and we have more than enough computer power to sort that out. The only thing holding us back is that most people still don't realize this yet. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design_science_revolution https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design_science_revolution It's taking longer than anticipated but the process never stopped. Reading this now you are a part of it, if you want to be.
- bckr 4y agoI would love to be in touch with you. The quality utopianists are hard to come by.
- carapace 4y agoCheers! Aren't you kind. :) I have a mailing list: https://lists.sr.ht/~sforman/heliotrope.pajamas https://lists.sr.ht/~sforman/heliotrope.pajamas And I lurk on (my own) IRC channel: irc://irc.libera.chat/#MagnusMotive I'm pretty weird and flakey, but I'm also committed and serious (though not humorless) about working towards the nice future. :) I see you have an email addy in your profile, I'll email you a little later today, after more coffee.
- lagrange77 4y agoI'm with you, in that a Star Trek utopia is indeed possible, technology and resource wise. And i would love to see the world society bending the trajectory, before it's too late. I just have seen too much greediness, to see a chance, that this will happen. Some poles would have to be moved, to bend the trajectory ;)
- swader999 4y agoAnd CEO's - everyone!
- tintor 4y agoYou could replace North Korea with China.
- carapace 4y agoThe interesting question (in this context) is whether the Social Credit system will be applied to the members of the CCP, eh? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Credit_System https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Credit_System