Self and fear of AI part one
Are you
we/they/them/it/him/her/binary? Questions we did not even think about when I
was growing up. Society is changing some would say for the good, others would
say for the worse, while most of us don’t understand the issues. I know that
younger readers may think that my generations are out of touch with the
realities of the modern world. They may be correct.
Humans tend
to think of our selves as the only wholly unique creations in nature. We believe that we are the only wholly unique creations in nature because of our
complex cognitive abilities, including self-awareness, Consciousness, and the
capacity for abstract thought. These abilities allow us to reflect on our own
existence, contemplate the meaning of life, and ponder our place in the
universe.
Furthermore,
over thousands of years, we have developed sophisticated language and
communication skills that allow us to articulate these thoughts and ideas,
which reinforces our perception as unique creations.
Moreover, we
have developed intricate social structures, cultures, and belief systems that
further differentiate us, we think from other species, reinforcing the notion of exceptionalism.
These factors combine to create a sense of superiority and uniqueness that contributes
to the idea that we are the only wholly unique creations in nature.
We’ve never
been so self-conscious about ourselves as we seem to be these days. Popular
magazines are filled with advice on things to do with self: how to find it,
identify it, nurture it, protect it, even, for special occasions, and weekends, and how
to lose it transiently. There are instructive books, and best sellers on
self-realization, self-help, and self-development. Groups of self-respecting people
pay large fees for three-day sessions together, learning self-awareness.
Self-enlightenment is taught in college.
You’d think,
to read about it, that we’d only just now discovered selves. Having long
suspected that there was something alive in there, running the place, separate
from everything else, absolutely individual and independent, we’ve celebrated
by giving it a real name. My self.
Current
societal emphasis is on self-awareness and self-improvement. There is a
proliferation of literature, courses, and workshops aimed at helping
individuals discover and develop their sense of self. The term “self”
has become a buzzword, and there seems to be a cultural obsession with the concept.
Originally Published on https://boomersnotsenior.blogspot.com/
