There are at least five important milestones our species has yet to reach. If we were to reach these milestones, we might be ready. Till then I'm not so sure.
Regarding this and #3 (community), I believe we also have to be very cautious about our social tendencies. We are one of the most social species on the planet—"ultra-social," as Michael Tomasello calls us. That leads to our great strengths—cooperation and community—but it also has a dark side, especially when mixed with power.
We are driven to work as a group, to form social groups, and to find collective solutions to problems. We are biologically and emotionally driven towards this; even a misanthropic convict starts to go nuts in solitary confinement. But this drive can easily morph from voluntary community into forced collectivism and the effacement of the individual human person. Without a moral grounding in individualist ethics, human social nature drives some to behave (and act politically) as if the individual does not have a choice, and may be forced to participate in whatever the collective tells her to. "What do you mean, you do not want to be a part of that? You don't have a choice. WE HAVE TO FIND WAYS TO LIVE TOGETHER." And there it happens—a biological/emotional drive becomes a political impulse to turn the individual into nothing more than a cell of a larger collective body.
Antisocial tendencies are always a problem, but they are also easily spotted. The difference between chosen community and forced collectivism, on the other hand, is, to many, a lot more subtle…and thus, in my view, quite pernicious. The totalitarian monstrosities of the 20th century are an egregious, but certainly not the only, example.
I'd like to see a new version of The Day the Earth Stood Still, but instead of an interplanetary organization controlled by robots, there's an interplanetary network of benevolent beings who seek to uplift the less developed. Instead of: "Your choice is simple: join us and live in peace, or pursue your present course and face obliteration." "Your choice is simple, pursue your present course and continue fighting and impoverishing yourselves, or listen to out guidance and see our examples of how to live in peace, liberty, and improvement."
Weirdly, I've been working on creative concepts for a black-mirror style sci-fi show in this vein, only subtly tinged with our worldview. Maybe this should go into the mini treatments.
Quick editing error: check your numbers, you have two 3s. And you have six milestones not five, yes? I checked your original post and it was ok although differently numbered.
Interesting article…I did not realize you were associated with the Advocates for Self-Government and their famous quiz, a favorite resource for Voluntaryist me.
It begins and ends for me with Self-Government/Self-Control.
“The best government is that which teaches us to govern ourselves. As you come to trust yourself, you will know how to live.” Goethe
I consider the “Aliens” are the vast majority of current living human beings who are “alienated” from themselves—schizophrenically split into warring, unintegrated selves due to infant/childhood abuse/neglect.
Thus these out of self-control/governance adulterated adults, need to control others (masters) or be controlled (slaves).
The self-alienated as masters need to be an Authority-Savior-Parent to bear/save/protect others; or as slaves need to have such masters to bear/save/protect them.
Both masters and slaves refuse to be responsible for their freedom and cannot trust themselves not to do harm.
We have met the Aliens and they are us.
Yes. And why we need mature, peaceful parenting to finally raise responsibly free, peaceful children rather than razing irresponsibly free, warring ones.
Thanks for the heads up. I think I screwed up the numbering in the original, but fixed it here. Or at least I think. // Also, nice Goethe quote. I hadn't seen that one!
Fascinating perspective you've unearthed. I believe numerous individuals with metaphysical talents would share your view. It's glaringly clear that comprehending the collective evolution of consciousness stands as the utmost essential to grasp our human essence. Amidst the accelerating pace of everything, this remains collectively stagnate. Nevertheless, social technology has carved out a realm of community that was once a distant dream. The progression of society seems sluggish, possibly due to the absence of imagination in our strangely crafted world. As for myself, I've recently been a mere observer, witnessing dreams permeated by thoughts of mass mortality.
I worry that there might be cognitive and institutional limits to elevating our consciousness as a species. Still, we have to try. One way is to change the institutions, which currently create perverse incentives to remain stagnant. But that, of course, is really hard. It's not as hard as changing humans' cognitive substrate. We're still cro-magnons, basically.
Initially, I believed that changing institutions was feasible, but that perspective shifted once I experienced them firsthand. Those possessing the necessary cognitive foundation often tend to be both highly self-governing and compassionate individuals. It seems a distinct cognitive makeup is required to withstand such environments; personally, I found myself unable to do so. While I was hopeful about transforming systems, I now lean towards the idea of a more subtle transformation. Communities are forming, collaborations are taking shape, and my impatience arises in part from the fact that I need to engage with the system to some extent in order to sustain my life. Perhaps unraveling this cognitive dissonance holds the key.
"how to mitigate our antisocial tendencies."
Regarding this and #3 (community), I believe we also have to be very cautious about our social tendencies. We are one of the most social species on the planet—"ultra-social," as Michael Tomasello calls us. That leads to our great strengths—cooperation and community—but it also has a dark side, especially when mixed with power.
We are driven to work as a group, to form social groups, and to find collective solutions to problems. We are biologically and emotionally driven towards this; even a misanthropic convict starts to go nuts in solitary confinement. But this drive can easily morph from voluntary community into forced collectivism and the effacement of the individual human person. Without a moral grounding in individualist ethics, human social nature drives some to behave (and act politically) as if the individual does not have a choice, and may be forced to participate in whatever the collective tells her to. "What do you mean, you do not want to be a part of that? You don't have a choice. WE HAVE TO FIND WAYS TO LIVE TOGETHER." And there it happens—a biological/emotional drive becomes a political impulse to turn the individual into nothing more than a cell of a larger collective body.
Antisocial tendencies are always a problem, but they are also easily spotted. The difference between chosen community and forced collectivism, on the other hand, is, to many, a lot more subtle…and thus, in my view, quite pernicious. The totalitarian monstrosities of the 20th century are an egregious, but certainly not the only, example.
I'd like to see a new version of The Day the Earth Stood Still, but instead of an interplanetary organization controlled by robots, there's an interplanetary network of benevolent beings who seek to uplift the less developed. Instead of: "Your choice is simple: join us and live in peace, or pursue your present course and face obliteration." "Your choice is simple, pursue your present course and continue fighting and impoverishing yourselves, or listen to out guidance and see our examples of how to live in peace, liberty, and improvement."
Weirdly, I've been working on creative concepts for a black-mirror style sci-fi show in this vein, only subtly tinged with our worldview. Maybe this should go into the mini treatments.
Quick editing error: check your numbers, you have two 3s. And you have six milestones not five, yes? I checked your original post and it was ok although differently numbered.
Interesting article…I did not realize you were associated with the Advocates for Self-Government and their famous quiz, a favorite resource for Voluntaryist me.
It begins and ends for me with Self-Government/Self-Control.
“The best government is that which teaches us to govern ourselves. As you come to trust yourself, you will know how to live.” Goethe
I consider the “Aliens” are the vast majority of current living human beings who are “alienated” from themselves—schizophrenically split into warring, unintegrated selves due to infant/childhood abuse/neglect.
Thus these out of self-control/governance adulterated adults, need to control others (masters) or be controlled (slaves).
The self-alienated as masters need to be an Authority-Savior-Parent to bear/save/protect others; or as slaves need to have such masters to bear/save/protect them.
Both masters and slaves refuse to be responsible for their freedom and cannot trust themselves not to do harm.
We have met the Aliens and they are us.
Yes. And why we need mature, peaceful parenting to finally raise responsibly free, peaceful children rather than razing irresponsibly free, warring ones.
Stay free and safe.
Thanks for the heads up. I think I screwed up the numbering in the original, but fixed it here. Or at least I think. // Also, nice Goethe quote. I hadn't seen that one!
Ah, two 3s. got it. Fixed. Thanks again!
Fascinating perspective you've unearthed. I believe numerous individuals with metaphysical talents would share your view. It's glaringly clear that comprehending the collective evolution of consciousness stands as the utmost essential to grasp our human essence. Amidst the accelerating pace of everything, this remains collectively stagnate. Nevertheless, social technology has carved out a realm of community that was once a distant dream. The progression of society seems sluggish, possibly due to the absence of imagination in our strangely crafted world. As for myself, I've recently been a mere observer, witnessing dreams permeated by thoughts of mass mortality.
I worry that there might be cognitive and institutional limits to elevating our consciousness as a species. Still, we have to try. One way is to change the institutions, which currently create perverse incentives to remain stagnant. But that, of course, is really hard. It's not as hard as changing humans' cognitive substrate. We're still cro-magnons, basically.
Initially, I believed that changing institutions was feasible, but that perspective shifted once I experienced them firsthand. Those possessing the necessary cognitive foundation often tend to be both highly self-governing and compassionate individuals. It seems a distinct cognitive makeup is required to withstand such environments; personally, I found myself unable to do so. While I was hopeful about transforming systems, I now lean towards the idea of a more subtle transformation. Communities are forming, collaborations are taking shape, and my impatience arises in part from the fact that I need to engage with the system to some extent in order to sustain my life. Perhaps unraveling this cognitive dissonance holds the key.