Exploring the Transhumanist Vision of Man-Machine Symbiosis in Four Modern, Hard Science Fiction Novels
Indrajit Patra
Research Scholar, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, National Institute of Technology, Durgapur (NITD), India
Abstract: In this paper my aim is to analyze four 21st Century hard science fiction novels, which are Charles Stross’ ‘Accelerando’, Alastair Reynolds’ ‘Revelation Space’, Iain M. Banks’ ‘Surface Details’ and Stephen Baxter and Alastair Reynolds’ collaborative work ‘The Medusa Chronicles’ to explore various aspects of a Post-Singular, Posthuman and machine-dominated future driven by an essentially Transhumanist vision of uplifting and elevating human self by a deep and thorough man-machine symbiosis. The
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Even though technological expansion always follows an exponential curve in which massive breakthroughs happen to suddenly skyrocket the course of mankind’ progress to unprecedented heights yet a brief analysis of thedevelopment of ideas and theories in this field of man-machine synthesis will benefit our discussion …show more content…
Problems like dealing with man-machine synthesis also expose the difficulties that we face at present as a result of our predominantly reductionist scientific approach which seeks to reduce and disassemble an object to its fundamental, reducible components and then analyze them. The problem of mind and machine can be tackled most effectively only when we are fully aware of their real nature and origin and can trace their evolution thoroughly and independently – the organic core of machines and machinic framework of biological substrates: “The problem is that embodied cognition that reduces body to a mere physical instantiation of sensory motor loops does not go deep enough in acknowledging the importance and implications of the biological embodiment for cognition” (Slawomir J. Nasuto, and Yoshikatsu Hayashi. "Anticipation: Beyond synthetic biology and cognitive robotics" Biosystems, vol. 148, October, 2016, pp. 22-31). The authors stress the need to go beyond the traditional Western dualistic conception of reality and the mechanistic
Haugen and Susan Musser explores the concepts of the theory of “the Singularity” (Haugen and Musser 1) by Ray Kurzweil. “What is the Singularity…the Singularity is a future period during which the pace of technological change will be so fast and far-reaching that human existence on this planet will be irreversibly altered.” (Haugen and Musser 1). The concept of Singularity is so profound and deep reaching in it’s entirety of a theory, but Kurzweil boils Singularity over the next half a century down to 3 stages, genetics, nanotechnology, and robotics. He demonstrates how human life, natural adaption, and evolution can coincide with technology and usher in the next wave of humanity possible only through the exponential growth and advancement of technology in significant stages.
Wrought in the imaginations of a number of science fiction authors, such as Robert A. Heinlein and Arthur C. Clarke, comes the iconic embodiment of the unknown, the alien. Crafting the notion of a human being coming face-to-face with a hostile, inhuman being became a tool in the early science fiction writer’s cache. The term inhuman, according to philosopher Jean-Francois Lyotard, refers to the dehumanizing effects of technology in society as well as the societal frameworks’ promotion of suitable collective behavior while seeking to repress of the rest of what lies within humanity (2). Both of Lyotard’s definitions appear in science fiction in various forms such as androids and artificial intelligence as in Isaac Asimov’s I, Robot short story collection, or the fictional societies that attempted to reform man in a certain framework as in the work of Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451.
Both Neuromancer and Dawn are works of science fiction taking place in the future of our own world. In this way they both provide ways to look at our own society through a different lense. Both Gibson and Butler bring to light many of the problems of our own world through their literature. Two articles are highlighted as well: In her article, Razor Girls: Genre and Gender in Cyberpunk fiction, Lauraine Leblanc addresses the issue of gender as a dichotomous system.
moment of vision or revelation, orgasm, manic ecstasy, and the aesthetic experience.” Cixous proposes that the androgyny’s function has “the potential to fulfill other bisexuality: which involves true unification in the sense that neither gender identity is excluded or differences are explored rather than annulled” (Fayad n.p.). These different definitions of androgyny suggests that the center of the utopian concern of feminist science fiction writers “is in modifying sex roles to allow for full human development of each individual person” (Annas n.p). Combination of utopia, androgyny and science fiction created new alternatives because the writers were “no longer really [interested] in the gadget, or the size of the universe, or the laws of robotics, or the destiny of social classes, or anything describable in quantitative, or mechanical, or objective terms . . . Their subject is the subject, that which cannot be other than subject: ourselves” (Le Guin, “Mrs Brown” 105).
I suggest that materials which are intelligently combined together are types of manmade machinery that comes from an intelligent design, (Evans and Manis, p.
Technology and the advances in science are miraculous, however, these advances create a life that is frustratingly difficult. In recent years the world of technology has boomed; from ATM’s to remote controls to computer systems technology is truly incredible, along with this cutting-edge technology comes excruciatingly minor inconveniences from the newest technology. Yes, the science world can design outlandish features and create spectacular designs, nevertheless, this begs the question; is this technology needed? In Mike Byrne’s Beware of the Leopard these advances and faults of technology are discussed. Byrne explains how marvelous the technology of today can be while, at the same time, interjects how these same advances can make life more difficult.
Many people have different ways of approaching the topic of machines in our society today. Machines have certainly improved how individuals in the workforce produce their good or service; however, these such machines can lead to negative consequences. If our society does not limit our machine 's capabilities, it can lead to effects that cannot be understandable or controllable. Although machines have incredible abilities in reality, these abilities have certain flaws which can lead to something disastrous.
What is the Mind? Introduction To try and explore the ‘mind’ it is necessary to examine if the mind and the brain are separate or if the mind and body are distinct from one another? Is the mind and body separate substance or elements of the same substance? Is consciousness the result of the mechanisms of the brain, wholly separate from the brain or inextricably linked?
The Negative Effects of Overdependence on Technology Through Ray Bradbury’s collection of short stories The Martian Chronicles, the theme of the overuse of technology is greatly emphasized through his use of the literary devices: allusion and imagery. To respond to the hysteria of the Cold War, Bradbury criticizes mankind’s ignorance through their improper use and overdependence on technology, which proved to be destructive to society and humanity on Earth. Throughout his anthology, Bradbury utilizes allusion in order to criticize humanity’s corrupt use of technology. In the short story There Will Come Soft Rains, Bradbury alludes to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima by describing how “five spots of paint remained, [and] the rest was a thin
As society continues to develop and makes new plans, technology in today’s world is starting to raise some questions. Patrick Lin, is a philosopher and director of the ethics emerging group at the state University in California. With the help of the university Patrick Lin wrote an essay called The Big Question: in his essay, he talks about the technologies and ideas in which many people seem to overlook today. In hopes of raising awareness about the upcoming industrial revolution of robotics. the changing of the world around us is already underway.
As discussed in The Machine Question, David J. Gunkel challenges his readers to understand the fundamental questions that relate to our perspectives on smart machines and artificial intelligence (Gunkel #). He addresses machines as moral agents, and whether or not they deserve to have ethical consideration. On the contrary, in Frankenstein,
While most sci-fi movies typically look that the juxtaposition of androids and humans to show the importance of keeping humanity ‘natural’ or superior to A.I., Blade Runner 2049 turns this notion on its head, showing instead that there is no difference between the two. Placing the humanistic qualities of the replicants, such as sacrifice and revolutions, next to the inhuman qualities of people, to show that there is no framework or guideline to being human, or having a human identity. Works Cited Blade Runner 2049. Dir.
In “The Machine Stops” by E.M. Forster, several real world social and psychological issues are portrayed and discussed through the use of a fictional, fractured relationship between a curious son and his stubborn, technologically occupied mother. Forster gives the reader a new perspective on the falsely perceived benefits of technology that distance an individual from face to face interaction. There is constant demonstration of disgust towards reality from the characters that are absorbed by what they consider to be the perfect machine, managing their lives and giving them anything that they think they could ever need without taking potential technological failure into consideration. Forster creates a dialogue between a desperate son, Kuno,
In his philosophical thesis, of the ‘Mind-Body dualism’ Rene Descartes argues that the mind and the body are really distinct, one of the most deepest and long lasting legacies. Perhaps the strongest argument that Descartes gives for his claim is that the non extended thinking thing like the Mind cannot exist without the extended non thinking thing like the Body. Since they both are substances, and are completely different from each other. This paper will present his thesis in detail and also how his claim is critiqued by two of his successors concluding with a personal stand.
As technology and robotics progress, people continue to debate how jobs and careers could be affected. Robotic replacement might not have a negative effect , especially since it has helped our development to be able to survive. The process of the robotic development started in the industrial age. The industrial age is known for “a period in which fundamental changes