Originally published at https://gordianknots.net
In this article, I want to lay out a different perspective on the Singularity we are living in and explain why this new approach opens up new possibilities for humanity. Most people associate the word “singularity” with the idea of highly intelligent AI taking over the planet. However, what if the true singularity has already begun, taking place directly in front of our eyes rather than in some far-off future?
An alternative definition of a singularity is examined in this article. Still, I link it to a radical shift that requires an extensive remake of society. But, what if there has already been a time like this in human history? Indeed, in my opinion we are in the second singularity. A singularity, where humanity has already gone through a similar revolutionary moment five thousand years ago.
The Dawn of Civilization: The Mesopotamian Revolution
A significant singularity occurred with the emergence of city-states in Lower Mesopotamia. It signaled a significant transition from tiny, scattered communities to densely populated urban cities of fifty thousand inhabitants.. This shift represented a revolution in way of life and social structure. The human brain experienced cognitive and intellectual revolutions to deal with the intricacies of this new social structure. The invention of religion, accounting, writing, time, math, industry, finance, law and other cultural advancements laid the foundation for the civilization we know today. These men made up all of this for being able to live altogether in these new urban centers.
A New Singularity: The Hyper-Megalopolis
Today, we find ourselves at the start of a new singularity, driven by the exponential growth of the human population to a staggering eight billion individuals. This unprecedented scale has shattered our traditional perception of the world. From bordered countries and few interactions, we went to a vast and interconnected global village. A few decades later it has become a hyper-megalopolis. Science, facts and critical thinking brought us where we are. But in this new world, and depending on opinions, more or less of the information is fake news - at least marketing or propaganda. This gathering of humanity also brought anxiety and depression. In this new world, there are no more true beacons to rely on; most of us are and will remain anonymous all their life; and not the slightest solution appears on the horizon. This is our two faced world. It is possibly the end of our civilization, and also possibly the beginning of a new one better fit for us to live altogether in our hyper-megalopolis, though.
Traditions: A Double-Edged Sword
In the face of these massive changes many people look back to the past, relying on traditions as beacons they can hold on. Once a source of comfort and stability, they can sometimes become a hindrance - even wreckers - in the face of rapid societal transformation. In other times, elders were captains of their communities to lead them and prevent them from drifting away. Now, they are like everybody else lost in the maize of life. So, it is crucial to critically examine our beliefs and traditions, ensuring that they align with the challenges of our time.
A World of Probabilities and Chaos
The sheer size of our current community has altered the probability landscape, like city-states did in their time. These two singularities are indeed shifts in size, thus in probabilities. In small communities, probabilities are obvious. Our brains are probabilistic computers which automatically and unconsciously reckon the odds for whatever we do, make or think, like for any other animals. But with a small number of individuals some cases may never happen even within generations. Then, when the change in scale in the number of individuals happened with the revolution of city-states, unexpected cases could appear. Critical thinking about ourselves appeared leading to the building of a new civilization. Today, in our hyper-megalopolis rare cases are not rare anymore, increasing the diversity and complexity of our society. Hopefully, with its digitization we can have a better comprehension of our world with probabilities and statistics.
The world of before was a static one where control was the main paradigm. We changed for a dynamic, complex, and possibly chaotic new one. It leaves no space for mid or long term predictions. Control and planification are then a lot less possible. Actually, this situation favors individuals and communities that are agile, adaptable, and capable of seizing opportunities in the face of uncertainty. This is a singularity: a place and time where the future is open, for the better and for the worse.
Embracing the Singularity
The singularity we face should not be a time to be feared, but rather a profound opportunity to shape the world we want. By harnessing the change and innovation, we can create a society that is both prosperous and equitable. The future is not written in stone; it is ours to shape. Would we be able to take the most of it? It depends! Revolutions are harsh with the weak. It is up to everybody, to every community or tribe, to adapt to this new situation in being strong and flexible at the same time. That is a challenge because our great civilization also made us weak and rigid. Mesopotamian in their time, succeeded. Will we?
Conclusion
As we navigate the uncharted waters of our singularity, let us embrace the spirit of audacity, adaptability, and innovation. For AI not to take over humanity, we need to have something more than it. In my opinion it is our magnificent bodies, and AI won’t have the same one for a long time. One thing to understand is that this is our bodies that support and influence our cognition. This is the position of Radical Embodied Neuroscience (REN). It can be seen as another way of what guruji - B.K.S. Iyengar, yoga master - said: “The mind is the general and the body its army.” Followed by my nasty corollary: “And if your army is full of incompetents, you’re not going very far.”
Getting out of the singularity will be a long and difficult journey, a path toward a better, more fulfilling human civilization. Still, how to become strong and flexible on a personal level? Any idea?
References about the singularity, neuroscience and yoga in this article: Ray Kurzweil , Radical Embodied Neuroscience (REN) and B.K.S Iyengar.