the singularity

Janette de Dios

Period 4

9/25/11

            For centuries, humans have always strived to facilitate their lives by creating far more advanced technology. Since then it has become an exponential progress in which technology has gained the unimaginable intelligence. Arising questions however keep some concerned and others anticipated about the future. Predictions state that this concept of the singularity will reach to a level of intelligence greater than that of humans in approximately 30 years. The concern however, is whether it will be a beneficial or harmful movement.                      

The concept of humans merging in with technology, or “The Singularity,” creates an illusory advancement in human life. In fact this new movement to merge and “become super-intelligent cyborgs” marks an end to human civilization in which humans become “irreversibly transformed” (Time).  One common topic of illusory advancement is the subject of life extension. Many “Singularitarians” believe that with technological advancement findings, the human body can be rejuvenated once again and can also prevent reaching death. Following this process would require one to consume “200 pills and supplements a day” (Time). In Brave New World, written by Aldous Huxley, the character Bernard lives in a world where the concept of the singularity exists. The people living in this “civilized world” consume products that rejuvenate them and that make them feel “better.” By taking these medications their lives are becoming inhumane. Both of these parallels violate the morals of human life and are living in an artificial way. The article on the singularity speaks of humans consuming pills to become younger and in Brave New World, the author has characters who prevent themselves from aging. Although it seems glorious to live a young life forever, it is also shocking that in the future humans will no longer live normal lives because it will be shocking to see an old person. With technological progress, humans “[Won’t] allow them to live like that” (Huxley 110). Bernard finds this advancement unessential to humanity for the same reason that they are no longer living an authentic life. Their lives are now based on products and chemicals that direct their way of living.       

Although the singularity concept seems beneficial due to progress, in reality it is causing human existence to lose its authenticity. Humans are reaching a point where the unimaginable is in the process of being discovered.