Kurzweil’s view

When reading Kurzweil’s view of the singularity and what it means for humanity, I found several parallels with Aristotle’s and Dante’s idea of a superhuman, as well as Voltaire’s. The connection I found between Dante and Kurzweil was that Dante’s superhuman was actualized throughout human history rather than with one human, this is very similar to what Kurzweil is proposing, that after the singularity, humanity will be actualizing their full potential. Kurzweil points out that it is a natural progression of humanity to become this biotechnologically enhanced superman because we have been advancing our intellects throughout human history, just as Dante believed. Aristotle’s beliefs about society would handle a superhuman should they arrive brings up some issues about how humanity should handle Kurzweil’s singularity, should we reach that point. If only the rich can afford the technologically enhancements, then the masses, according to Aristotle, have only two choices: to make them absolute monarchs over themselves, or to ostracize/kill them. Neither of these options would be a great idea for the wellbeing of humanity, in fact it would cause a greater and more dangerous divide between economical classes. However, if the singularity is more like Voltaire’s view of a superhuman, then the technologically enhanced humans would find parallels between themselves and ‘regular’ humanity and would help to advance humanity.

example of reply :When reading Kurzweil’s view of the singularity and what it means for humanity, I found several parallels with Aristotle’s and Dante’s idea of a superhuman, as well as Voltaire’s. The connection I found between Dante and Kurzweil was that Dante’s superhuman was actualized throughout human history rather than with one human, this is very similar to what Kurzweil is proposing, that after the singularity, humanity will be actualizing their full potential. Kurzweil points out that it is a natural progression of humanity to become this biotechnologically enhanced superman because we have been advancing our intellects throughout human history, just as Dante believed. Aristotle’s beliefs about society would handle a superhuman should they arrive brings up some issues about how humanity should handle Kurzweil’s singularity, should we reach that point. If only the rich can afford the technologically enhancements, then the masses, according to Aristotle, have only two choices: to make them absolute monarchs over themselves, or to ostracize/kill them. Neither of these options would be a great idea for the wellbeing of humanity, in fact it would cause a greater and more dangerous divide between economical classes. However, if the singularity is more like Voltaire’s view of a superhuman, then the technologically enhanced humans would find parallels between themselves and ‘regular’ humanity and would help to advance humanity.

2-

Kurzweil embraces the term “singularity”.  He predicts that through an exponential increase in technologies and by the self-improvement of these technologies, a state of super intelligence would take place. He believes that this would be achieved by 2045.  Kurzweil believes that machine intelligence would actually surpass human intelligence, and would lead us to more effectively look at the world beyond our planet.

Aristotle argues that if a superhuman appears–or a god among men is the term he uses–then certain problems would emerge, such as being rejected by the citizenry. This ties in nicely to the possible consequences that could occur if singularity is achieved:

I think that it is integral that we develop, and this is our true nature as Dante said. Also, I do agree that the mind contains unlimitedness. People 500 years ago would not have predicted that we would live in such conditions today. Conditions were harsher. Survival was difficult. However, today we have developed our technologies, and reached higher levels of intelligence to make our lives easier.  I think that singularity–irrespective of whether it actually happens or not– is an outcome of what the three philosophers emphasized: there is potential, and that potential can be actualized (if not to the fullest). With that being said, I do believe that more and more would improve as time passes, which is essentially what Kurzweil emphasized.