FUTURE MATTERS CAN YOU FIND PEACE

By Claire A. Nelson

2022 Gone. At the Speed of light. We are now settled in to live and love with chronic COVID, long-haul COVID, still mutating COVID. Just another disease we can manage. With booster shots or not. I am looking out at 2023 on the way to 2050 with somewhat blurred vision. It has been hard to stay optimistic with constant onslaught of news about technological marvels that for me seem to be harbingers of doom. Yes. I did say doom. Despite my determined optimistic stance in life, I do tend to see second and third order fingers of horror lurking behind every story of glorious advances in technology from A to Z -- from AI through blockchain, cryptocurrency, genome-splicing, quantum computing, Six(6) G, xeno-biology (a sub-sector of the study of synthetic biology) and zenography (the study of Jupiter).

Even McDonald’s has decided to turn their golden arches into a testbed for contactless food service. Many might be held in thrall by the prospect of french-fries that have not been touched by human hands. But for me the thrill is gone. I have long suspected it was coming ever since the headlines touted that China had begun testing its first robot-run restaurant in Shanghai in 2018. One would think with a population of 1 billion, there are surely people-a-plenty in search of work. Maybe this the new way to wage war on the working poor. If we remove workers and their wages from the profit-loss equation, not only will the social safety nets start sagging under the weight of unmanageable numbers of the un- and underemployed, but said workers are likely to spend their new-found leisure hours getting boozed up on a steady diet of TikTok. Left uncontrolled and uncensored, the hyper-happiness of unfettered TikTok scrolling will give way to apathy, boorishness, cantankerousness and discontent. From there its only one slippery slope to increased social discord, dissonance and even greater divisiveness between the classes, genders, races, communities, cities, and states and before you know it… “Oops! There lies the carcass of democracy.” There is a reason why although they’re owned by the same company, TikTok in China offers a child-friendly version, with educational videos and a time limit, that is not the same as the TikTox offered in the USA, or elsewhere in the world for the matter.

Guess who is on tap to win the culture wars for the control of the future. Unless the rest of the world wakes up the insidious danger of too much information and too much freedom. It has been said, “Freedom is not free. It is bought at a high price. It can be squandered cheaply. The price of freedom is eternal vigilance. The future of democracy likewise. The banning law being proposed by the US Congress, titled “Averting the National Threat of Internet Surveillance, Oppressive Censorship and Influence, and Algorithmic Learning by the Chinese Communist Party Act (ANTI-SOCIAL CCP Act),” would protect Americans by blocking and prohibiting all transactions from any social media company in, or under the influence of, China, Russia, and several other foreign countries of concern. Can Americans give up TikTok or will we need another decade of ‘JUST SAY NO’ commercials targeting the social media addicted.

I find it puzzling that, so few people are focused on innovating in sectors that are purported to bring peace and joy to the world. Like Christmas. Where is the innovation there?

We are still singing Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire, even in the tropics, and surely the rendition of Handel’s Messiah by orchestra and chorus could withstand a modern interpretation and improvisation. How is it that despite all the technological marvels and experiences we can buy, we still are not happier as a species? This we know by the increasing percentage of people with mental health challenges and the rising number of death by their own hands. And no one is immune. Even the seemingly rich and famous in possession of enviable numbers of Twitter followers. It used to be that we thought that being “liked’ was a sure way to find happiness, now we are being made to understand thanks to reggae singer Chronixx we are to do what we do for ‘love’ of what we do and not for the sake of securing a hailstorm of ‘likes’ on social media’. It makes sense. For we now know that life in the future present in this the second decade of the 21st century does not seem any more secure for those of who live in fear of losing ‘it’ (whatever ‘it’ you care to name) than those who lived the future past - one hundred years ago. The roaring twenties (1920-1929) arising out of World War I, and the newfound joys such as the rockets, the electric blender, quick frozen foods invented by Clarence Birdseye whose frozen peas and carrots still find its way into our kitchens and the electric stoplight invented by Garret Morgan, a Black man (in case you did not know). We seem to be slowly losing our minds as machines become more and more intelligent. Despite our ability to splice the genome and 3-D print body parts we still don’t seem to have the tools to heal our minds.

Maybe our seemingly inexorable march in the direction of technological advancement is like the search for Fools Gold. The more riches we seem to get, the more foolish we become. How might we get to futures of wellbeing? Where more people do “more better”? Maybe we need innovations that can improve the quality of our decision making. Not just the quality of the data? But the quality of our minds. The quality of our ethics and morals. Maybe we need to innovate around the principles and philosophies by which we make the rulebooks that guide our human civilization from village to city to state to space. Maybe we need to reimagine our share future through the SMART Values of Solidarity, Mutuality, Altruism, Reciprocity and Trust for the 21st Century.

Given the complexity of challenges we face - from deciding how to design bathrooms that address the needs of both our multi-gendered Generation Z as well as the stuck-in-the-past boomers and religious adherents who stubbornly cling to the belief that a woman must be born with a set of ovaries and a fallopian tube, to deciding how we will share the Moon or crafting the sustainability metrics for climate engineering needed to save us from the excesses of our carbon addictionwe need help.

Despite It being the Christmas season, I was hopeful that a heavenly messenger would sound about news of the birth of planetary consciousness that would herald glad tidings of great joy. Indeed, good news bears seem to be in hibernation. The night remained silent as no Magi came forward with gifts. But hark! OpenAI delivered unto us CHAT GPT, a modern-day oracle available at our fingertips. No need to visit the Delphi on Mount Vesuvius. And thus, it was to this new oracle of knowledge, ChatGPT that I turned for guidance on the Future of Ethics, Morality and Reason, the bedrock for shaping the SMART values we need.

My first question.

ME: “What is the Future of Ethics?”

I did not too much care for the first answer it gave me, as I felt it did not adequately address my fears. So, I asked again. This is the second response.

THE ORACLE: “It is difficult to predict exactly what the future of ethics will be, as it depends on the values and beliefs of the individuals and societies that shape it. However, there are a few trends and issues that are likely to shape the future of ethics in the coming years.

One trend that is likely to continue is the increasing recognition of the importance of ethical considerations in various fields, such as business, technology, and politics. As technology becomes more advanced and societies become more interconnected, the ethical implications of certain actions and decisions are likely to become more apparent and more widely debated.

Another trend that is likely to shape the future of ethics is the increasing recognition of the value of diversity and inclusion. This includes efforts to promote equality and fairness for people of all genders, races, and backgrounds, as well as efforts to protect the rights of marginalized and disadvantaged groups.

In addition to these trends, there are also likely to be a number of specific issues that will drive ethical debates in the future. For example, the ethical implications of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and biotechnology, are likely to be a major area of concern. There may also be debates around the ethics of issues such as climate change, global inequality, and the distribution of resources.

Overall, the future of ethics is likely to be shaped by a combination of trends and specific issues, as well as the values and beliefs of the individuals and societies that are involved in shaping it.”

I did the reconnaissance. More of the same with a few new twists. I liked the mention of diversity, equity and inclusion.

I then turned to question two.

ME: “What is the Future of Morality?”

THE ORACLE: “It is difficult to predict the future of morality with certainty, as it depends on a number of complex social, cultural, and technological factors that are constantly changing. However, some possible developments that could shape the future of morality include:

The continued evolution of social norms and values: As societies evolve and change, so too do their norms and values. For example, in the past, certain forms of discrimination or inequality were considered acceptable, but are now widely considered immoral. Similarly, the future may bring new moral issues that are currently unimaginable.

The impact of new technologies: The development and widespread use of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence and biotechnology, could have significant moral implications. For example, these technologies could raise ethical questions about the rights of robots or the use of genetic modification to enhance human capabilities.

Changes in cultural and religious influences: Different cultures and religions have their own moral frameworks and guidelines. As people become more interconnected and globalized, it is possible that these different moral frameworks could influence one another, leading to changes in how people view and practice morality.

The role of education and critical thinking: Education and critical thinking skills can help people develop their own moral principles and reasoning skills. As such, the promotion of education and critical thinking may play a role in shaping the future of morality.

Ultimately, the future of morality is difficult to predict and will likely be shaped by a complex interplay of these and other factors.

Finally, my third question.

ME: “What is the Future of Reason?”

THE ORACLE: “It is difficult to predict the future of reason with certainty, as it depends on a number of complex social, cultural, and technological factors that are constantly changing. However, some possible developments that could shape the future of reason include:

The impact of new technologies: The development and widespread use of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, could have significant implications for the way we think and reason. For example, these technologies could assist with tasks that require complex reasoning, or they could potentially augment human reasoning abilities.

Changes in education and critical thinking: Education and critical thinking skills can help people develop their reasoning skills and the ability to evaluate and analyze information. As such, the promotion of education and critical thinking may play a role in shaping the future of reason.

The role of social media and online communication: The proliferation of social media and online communication has significantly impacted how we communicate and access information. This trend is likely to continue in the future and could impact how we reason and think about problems and issues.

The influence of cultural and societal factors: Different cultures and societies may place different values on the importance of reason and critical thinking. As people become more interconnected and globalized, it is possible that these different cultural and societal influences could shape the future of reason.

Ultimately, the future of reason is difficult to predict and will likely be shaped by a complex interplay of these and other factors.

Well look at that, the Oracle seems to be repeating itself. Is that good or bad? Right or Wrong? Has the Oracle done enough research and practice to give the best answer or is the best as yet to come? Truth be told, the sameness of these three answers lead me to believe that the oracle may not be as wise as needed just yet. Nonetheless, the oracle and I did have something in common. We both believe that ultimately, the future of ethics, morality and reason is difficult to predict and will likely be shaped by a complex interplay of several factors.