The Singularity Frankenstein
June 09 2008 / by Alvis Brigis / In association with Future Blogger.net
Category: Social Media Year: General Rating: 5 Hot
When exploring the possible futures ahead of us one sooner or
later encounters The
Singularity memeplex, a concept with multiple meanings that
people now generally associate with exponentialist Ray Kurzweil’s
definition, “technological change so rapid and profound it
represents a rupture in the fabric of human history”. He and others
argue this will come about as the result of human-trumping or
super-human-enabling artificial intelligence that fundamentally
transforms our system and ourselves. 
While the notion of a big-ass capital-S singularity is a very important concept, especially for future interested noobs attempting to comprehend the general ramifications of runaway technology growth, I agree with the likes of Eliezer Yudkowsky that it’s become a most un-scientific mash-up of several different schools of little-s singularity thought, something he appropriately calls “Singularity paste”.
The result is a huggable yet identity-torn memetic Frankenstein far more reminiscent of spirituality structures than of the scientific method which fundamentally violates the cardinal commandment of rigorous futures studies: Thou shalt not worship one single future, but the myriad possible futures ahead of us. (Note the plural. There’s solid reasoning behind it.)
Thus, it should come as absolutely no surprise when blogs like Wired Science label the Singularity a faith, thinkers such as Ted Modis call it a myth, and sci-fi authors including Warren Ellis dub it a religion. Such competent voices are being forced into adopting a contrary position to a Big-S singularity because it’s difficult for them to find the logical middle ground that they would naturally occupy. (cont.)
