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That 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 ha

That 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 ago
In 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 ago
The 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 ago
  In 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 ago
    No, 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.

That 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 ago

In 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 ago

The 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 ago
In 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 ago
  No, 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.