-
@ node81001
2024-06-04 05:04:34Central/Top down potentially AI guided behavior vs. God and the Individual.
Premise
Calculation of suffering within a system and aiming to reduce it by guiding the behavior of individuals from a central authority is a constant temptation.
Problems
Some suffering is most likely necessary for human consciousness as we know it to exist. To aim for the ideal level of suffering overall you must know the ideal level of suffering for each individual as well as be able to orchestrate their behavior to achieve this scenario for each individual. This is likely impossible. Certainly impossible without immense computing power/AI.
Hypothetical
The computer capable of both the information gathering and computing power to come close to achieving a top down solution to human suffering would essentially be an all knowing artificial god.
Problems
All knowing in this context would need to include the thoughts, feelings, etc of each individual. This would require individuals to be both comfortable with their mind being read, transmitted and analyzed/stored by outside sources as well be on board with giving up their day to day as well as larger life choices to what is essentially a man made god. Alternatively the central authority could attempt to force it's calculated path on each individual unbeknownst to them, however the fact that it must be forced inevitably causing suffering negates the initial aim to reduce suffering.
Questions
Why would individuals reject such an all knowing central authority assuming reduction in suffering is a worthy goal? * Lack of privacy interfering with free thought. * Loss of free will interfering with sense of self and purpose. * Animosity at the inevitable unequal treatment of individuals by the central authority to achieve "optimal reduction in suffering".
What would make this all seeing eye of more bearable? * Privacy insuring free thought without fear of scrutiny/punishment except from oneself. * Ability to reject guidance and use free will to choose ones own path even if it leads to suffering. * Ability to take responsibility for ones own path and less need to place blame on outside forces for ones suffering.
Is this more bearable all seeing eye analogous to self-consciousness or also/alternatively enlightenment/relationship with God?
If so it seems evolution/existence/god has already attempted to assist in reduction of human suffering by bringing these tools into being.
Conclusion?
Evolution already did that and it sorta works sometimes? Any central authority even an all knowing and all powerful authority must compete with or work alongside but in the end cannot overwrite the "decentralized" authority of the individual self which comes embedded in human biology though potentially more in some than others.
-GK