Subject: Re: post-literate change
From: Arun-Kumar Tripathi (tripathi@statistik.uni-dortmund.de)
Date: Sat 06 May 2000 - 22:14:53 MEST
Date: Sat, 6 May 2000 22:14:53 +0200 (MET DST) From: Arun-Kumar Tripathi <tripathi@statistik.uni-dortmund.de> Subject: Re: post-literate change
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Greetings IFETS Campus,
--Privileged to be here--
"Prof. Muhammad Betz, Ph.D." wrote the below:--
> > I find myself thinking more like a computer, and I have
> > noticed a change in my sensory perception, i.e, to by more virtual,
> > particulary after extended time at the computer station. We humans
> > predictable will grow more like computers and computers will become more
> > human.
Yes..
The acceleration pace of technological prgress means that our intelligent
creations will soon eclipse us --and that their creations will eventually
eclipse them (Ray Kurzweil)
> > The question: Does this phenomenon indicate an evolutionary event?
> > No, not yet. Evolution does not occur within one generation. With
> > the rapid rate of progress in terms of technological progress, there
> > is no sound way to predict where the relationship between humans and
> > computers (or computers' "relatives" and "progeny") will lead.
I would like to add some concerns, here..Ray Kurweil, who wrote about the
coming merging of Mind and Machines[he called this as New Mind]..has also
raised some thoughts on evolution, "The evolution of biological life and
the evolution of technology have followed the same pattern: they take a
long time to get going, but advancing build on one another and progess
erupts at an increasingly furious pace. The evolution of technology has
been a continuation of the evolutionary process that gave rise to us -the
technology-creating species-in the first place.[this particular statement
is just opposite of Andrew Feenberg's concerns, stated below]
"Dr. Tom Abeles" wrote the below:--
> Donna Harraway has suggested that we are already cyborgs though not in
> the sense of Star Trek's Borg.
And, Donna Haraway, in her "The Cyborg Manifesto" has also expressed serious
concerns on militarism, the body and gender. --The new communications
technologies are fundamental to the eradication of 'public life' for
everyone. --and this facilitates the mushrooming of a permanent high-tech
military establishment at the cultural and economic expense of most
people, but especially to women. The culture of video games is heavily
oriented to individual competition and extraterrestrial warfare.
> Ray Kurzweil in his Age of Spiritual Machines and Bill Joy, in the
> recent issue of Wired Magazine have also suggested that this is the
> evolutionary path if computers deem that we humans as biological
> organisms have a survival quotient high enough.
And, Ray Kurzweil, -who has created a sensation amongst computer
technologists and AI researchers with his book, "The Age of Spiritual
Machines" --where *Spirituality* is less discussed.
On the contrary..
Andrew Feenberg (Questioning Technology, Routledge, 1999) and (Critical
Theory of Technology, OUP, 1991) discussed the Heideggerian issue of
technology, Habermas and the Essence of Technology, also raised concerns,
that what are the philosophical implications of these technological
transformations? Where we are going? He tried to investigate in his
books and essays -the nature of technology, and to understand how
technological advances poses new dilemmas? Is technology taing over? Are
human beings technologically obsolete? -and most important concerns, he
raised -what is a revolution in a technologically advanced society?
Bill Joy has raised the issue of ethics and Unabomber..in WIRED..and this
issue of ethics is much concerned in the research and predictions of Ray
Kurweil. We cann't put Ethics on the tree and forget! and where is the
Spirituality discussed in the book of Ray Kurweil?
References:--
---------
Heidegger, Habermas and the Essence of Technology
<http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/faculty/feenberg/kyoto.html>
Questioning Technology
<http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/faculty/feenberg/PREF.HTM>
Critical Theory of Technology
<http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/faculty/feenberg/CRITSAM2.HTM>
Modernity Theory and Technology Studies: Reflections on Bridging the Gap
<http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/faculty/feenberg/twente.html>
More later..on above issues..
Sincerely
Arun Tripathi
Research Scholar
UNI Do, Germany
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