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There's a reason why literally every fiction work on transhumanism is a dystopia, even those were transhumanism is just a generic stand-in for technological adv
by formerly_proven 4y ago
There's a reason why literally every fiction work on transhumanism is a dystopia, even those were transhumanism is just a generic stand-in for technological advancement.
- falcor84 4y agoIs the reason fear of the unknown?
- pixl97 4y agoI mean that is a common trope, but why not fear of the known also. "Rich Capitalist optimizes future for themselves leaving the poor destitute and screwed"
- okasaki 4y agoWhat's the reason? I guess because it's easier to write?
- matthewmacleod 4y agoThat is absolutely not true – Iain M. Banks' Culture novels are probably some of the most well-known works of fiction with themes of transhumanism, and would hardly be called dystopian.
- giraffe_lady 4y agoIn the books the culture is frequently called dystopian by people outside of it. Usually to some extent out of ignorance but not completely and not always. Within the culture itself in the books, there is an awareness of the dystopian potential of the culture's powers, and tension about what applications are acceptable. The political and cultural shape of the culture itself sort of makes a silhouette around the dystopia it is trying not to be, or could become. It's a positive transhumanist take for sure, but it directly confronts how necessarily tangled up that is with much worse worlds, and should get credit for it.
- ThrowawayR2 4y agoThe existence of an average citizen of the Culture always seemed terrifyingly vacuous and stagnant. 99.999% of the trillions of individuals that exist are not talented or interesting enough to produce any artistic works or scientific research (particularly compared with the vastly superior intellects of the Minds) of value so they simply amuse themselves any way they can, under the gentle care and supervision of the Minds, until their body stops working. I am reminded in particular of the ship's crew who gave themselves colds simply because they wanted to experience being ill and the Minds' "Infinite Fun Space". It is a very comfortable dystopia to be sure and possibly even the best outcome any sapient species could ever hope for but there is something very bleak about it.
- MichaelZuo 4y agoIn any possible future, y% of the x number of individuals that exist are not talented or interesting enough to produce any artistic works or scientific research.
- concordDance 4y ago> 99.999% of the trillions of individuals that exist are not talented or interesting enough to produce any artistic works or scientific research This sadly sounds like the modern world.
- alexvoda 4y agoNo, it sounds like life in general. 99.999% of the humans in history were not talented or interesting enough to produce any artistic works or scientific research. 99.9999...% of the organisms that exist or ever existed are not special enough to produce any notable heritage. Most have not even produced a fossil. And even those who have will eventually be erased as the tectonic plate undergoes subduction.
- rowanG077 4y agoIsn't that just because it wouldn't be interesting to write about a utapian transhuman society? I really wouldn't put much stock into what a few story writers came up with.
- celdon25 4y agoThe Metamorphosis of Prime Intellect was very interesting to read at least.
- kragen 4y agoThere's a reason why Batman is fighting costumed supervillains in literally every fiction work on him, but it isn't because costumed supervillains are a real thing, or because Batman would really be fighting them if he existed.