1.2 Point of No Return

What does all this discussion of futures and the human virus mean? In observing our daily interactions and the historical foundations that have led mankind to our current status and position as “dominators” over the world in which we live, one fact becomes fearfully apparent; we are at a point of no return. A decision must be made. Either we as “dominators” correct the problems readily evident or face self-destruction.

Though we find movies like Terminator, I-Robot, and the Matrix entertaining there are facts that lead the human mind to dream up such fantastical tales of mechanical mayhem. There are events that lead an intelligent civilization to pivotal points and critical decisions just as these productions suggest. For a clear view of the chronological progression, an understanding of the steps is necessary. It is impossible for a civilization to reach this point without correctly completing a proceeding step. Man has been steadily motivated to better himself by the necessary desire to understand the world. We want more knowledge so we can better control the environment and ourselves. In this desire, we have made the necessary steps leading to this point.

First, comes the thought of being more than a pawn in the evolution of life. For ourselves we said “I think, therefore I am,” and ever since, have never looked back. This level of self-awareness is required for any species to be more than animalistic. It takes higher sociological skills to become an effective and knowledgeable species. Take for example the level of communication in marine life. Using simple sounds, these animals are able to complete simple task and in some cases, taught to understand human sign language and verbal speech. Even with insects we find communication, but on a sociological scale all animal species lack one vital component of communication, knowledge. Animals can communicate, but not in the level that humans as a species has been able to do. This is one of many reasons why we can no longer consider ourselves "the human animal;" the statement is a contradiction. Communicable knowledge is the first step in this direction, the direction of a species in stepping outside nature and is necessary for a species to step outside of the realm of natural control.

Once outside of natural selection and control, our development and survival depend on the second point of necessity, the scientific method of discovery. Being able to evaluate a situation or occurrence. Like cavemen gathered around a burning tree after a storm. Never before had they been able to control something so beautiful yet powerful, as the knowledge of fire. From this and other passed down observations, we can become a better understanding civilization. This foundational knowledge leading to the endeavor of science and technology. Without understanding the world we know would cease to expand, allowing us to adapt and change the environment as new factors change the aspects of the world. Without comprehending our mental prowess and intellectual ability, we humans would have found ourselves extinct like our “cousins.” By taking our understanding of the interactions between elements of life and physical properties, we bring the world under our submission.

This submission is what allows us to create farms, gardens, and nurseries. Lastly - coming before we must make the decision spoken of - is the over dependency and degradation of the environment in which we absorb the products without replacing the cycle components. Exchanging them for hazardous by-products; destroying the balance of the natural cycle of renewal necessary for the perpetual existence of life.

Human Recorded History / The Likely Future

1.1 Visions of Grandeur

Possibilities, the world and the mind are made to ponder them constantly; the possibilities of wars, the possibility of cures, the possibility of life on distant planets are topics of great interest and limitless application. With books like Arts of the Possible by Adrienne Rich and the short stories of Isaac Asimov, the view of possibilities shows their boundlessness. Popular telecommunications would have us believe in a future full of creature comforts, environmental perfection, and euphoria. Is that truly possible?

Of course! Just as possible as humans being born without the need for love or computers “smart enough” to calculate the outcome of the next time the Boston Red Socks World Series victory. The possibility of a perfect world has always enticed and driven the machines of innovation, what is to say it should stop anytime soon. Just as love is held as a communal truth, it can not be proven or postulated by experimentation and evaluation. However, possibilities are always uncertainties that have closer relationships with fairy tales and ghost stories, than realistic fact.

Possible futures will always exist, on both sides of the spectrum. In one case we, Homo sapiens, just might find ourselves in a future where every whelm is heeded. Where exercise is an extinct childhood disease. Taking as an example, America finds itself on the brink of an incurable affliction of appetite. While others suffer hunger, resources and science is being made to accommodate this epidemic.

The end of exercise coming about by some technological advances that some branch of bio genetic science provides. Futures where we do not even have to drive ourselves to work, if the necessity of work itself is not eradicated as well. Are such advances in technology possible? Yes, history has shown that the human animal’s ingenuity can never be contained, hindered, or dissuaded. In our pursuit of pleasure, we as a society will do everything to accomplish our goal. Now, do not get me wrong, everyone is not so selfish, but sadly those that have the resources control the sources needed for creating machines, medicines, and technology. An extremely sad example of a principle I’ll cover later; survival of the fittest.

Now the other side of the spectrum is complete and utter chaos. The apocalyptic scenes we all have seen in our dreams or thoughts. Some of which have been successfully transferred to quality media in Technicolor. Some scenarios find the human race annihilated by weapons of mass destruction. Some cover a future destroyed by the selfishness of one individual or group of individuals in pursuit of power. Neither of these preceding scenarios seems more plausible than the one presented by Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clark, James Cameron, or Larry & Andy Wachowski.

A future in which mans pursuit of the creation of comforts in the forms of android, Cyborgs, artificial intelligence, and robots leads to the ultimate demise of the human race. In most cases these self-aware beings act just as human beings, desiring only to survive and procreate. Their only problematic factor being the existence of human beings, who in most of these apocalyptic situations have been classified by their creations as viruses. A likely future as well? Possibility is the child of desire and intelligence; if it can be though up it can be made true.