Superman
American geologists are congregating these days to discuss if We are or not in a new Geological Era: The Anthropocene or, in plain English, “The Age of Man”.
So, what it is about this “Age of Man”?
If, 100 million years from now, some hypothetic scientists will look at Earth’ rocks they would eventually identify that something Big happened in Our times: some stripes in the rocks showing huge amounts of unexplained materials (such as traces of plastic Coca Cola bottles, Chinese plastic toys, poisonous electric batteries, oil patches, etc – what We usually call Garbage).
They would also find out that lots of useless plant and animal species disappeared in a flash, kind of the same like at the dinosaur’s oblivion time.
In short, from geological point of view, this new era will be uniquely identified by Our ubiquitous crap and sudden death of all edible fish.
It also means that, from this moment on, Humans are the driving force of the planet, and all the other natural elements (oceans, forests, mountains, etc will have to obey to the new God in town: The (Super) Man (For more about Anthropocene see: Wikipedia; Geoscientist)
Now, there are some who are saying that this new Age of Man is somehow “natural”, in the sense that is real and is here. Therefore, We should live with it, and consider seriously Our new job description: The Most Fierce Natural Element on Planet Earth (see Economist).
Our new artificial world will become the new “Natural” and the old Nature will probably become history (to be remembered in some parks and reservations).
As Super-Men and Super-Women, We will have to learn how to use Our super-powers at our best interest (and eventually be nice and benevolent with all other creatures, as long as they don’t disturb our Olympic tranquility).
Gone are the times when Odysseus was at the mercy of the sea storms. Now We’ll use planetary engineering to tame the global climate. Also, it is finally the time for all Our Farts and Burps (including those of animals we eat) to really make a difference on the big schema of things .
Some may say that this is a materialization of Nietzsche’s Superman (Übermensch) and his Will to Power; now it is the Age when The Man finally overcomes His low condition by achievement, ambition, and striving to reach the highest possible position in life. He becomes his own Master and God. It is kind of what Nazi tried but failed short of it.
If on top of all these, We’ll add the concept of Technological Singularity (the imminent emergence of greater-than-human intelligence through technological means), then the Age of Man becomes something much bigger and sublime. It is something so grandiose that is beyond my humble power of comprehension.
Some naysayers are arguing We may not be ready for this. They guess that Zarathustra smoked grass and therefore all our might may be just a hallucination (here are some thoughts of the first Anthropocene Philosopher)
The point is that We will be responsible for Life. Not Our personal life, not the life of our family and friends, or our nation’s life or whole Humanity’ life. I mean the Whole Life, from horse flies to blue whales.
Then, these questions arise:
First, do we understand why we have this Responsibility?
And, second, do we have the (intellectual) means to assume such a Responsibility?
Related to the first question, the aforementioned Anthropocene Philosopher is urging for a global widespread of Moral Philosophy. It should be a new Moral Law, based on this major paradigm change.
This is because, is our shaky moral values (as many as they are) are not at all sufficient for Us to accept the Life’s Protector role, neither the terrible responsibilities and sacrifices related to it.
The problem is that I’m not aware of any new Moses to have brought us yet the upgrade to the Tables of the Law.
It is very hard to believe that a new Moral Law will be truly effective, while “rational consumer” society is still based on individual selfishness and greed.
We probably need a Global 9/11, a s grief makes some of Us better Humans (Here is about New Yorkers being more polite after 9/11)
About the second question, I’ll rant more on a future post.
from: Artificial Insanity