Neo-Anthropo-Something-or-Other

Previously, the concept of Neo-AnthropoGenic Psychology, or NAG Psych, was considered as the natural outgrowth of a childhood filled with science fiction dreams and real science wonders. But where is the science? What is the science that can fuel this new engine for relevant study? Here’s barely a starting point, though a strong one. Over the years, I have given much attention to futurists like Ray Kurzweil and have been fascinated by the idea of exponential change that is largely proving true, as Moore’s Law continues to meet and exceed its namesake’s own predictions. Kurzweil’s record on predictions is exceptional, second only to his very optimistic and insightful promotion of a coming Singularity. He is not alone in painting this picture: Aubrey de Grey’s approach to death as a disease that needs an effective treatment, if not a cure; Peter Diamandis’ crowd sourcing incentives to press inventions and his positive outlook on a future with great abundance; Stuart Hameroff’s Quantum Consciousness Theory and its activist Amit Gotswami; Hiroshi Ishiguro’s work in robotics; George Church’s genomics and synthetic life creation, and so many more make up the parade of technology believers. This group, however, does not fulfill the criteria for a complete study in Neo-AnthropoGenic Psychology.

To the recipe there must be added the brilliant skeptics like Miguel Nicolelis, MIT neuroscientist and pioneer of brain-activated devices, who says a brain cannot as simple as an algorithm, which is at the the core of the Singularity; Joseph Weizenbaum, Rogerian psychotherapist and inventor of ELIZA, an early chatbot that behaved as a Rogerian psychotherapist would and fooled many, which made Weizenbaum a lifelong opponent to the development of AI, and still more. It should be noted that Nicolelis does believe that machines will be integrated into humans over time to augment their abilities, and Weizenbaum’s invention launched research leading to virtual therapists today that studies show people interacting with the VR therapist share deeper issues more readily. These are in keeping with NAG Psych’s mapping of two sometimes intersecting paths of human-generated evolution: machine-based (or AI) and bio-based.

As all the concepts began arranging themselves visually, it became clear in the works of the current technologists and futurists where optimism reigned that an objective study into the psychological impact of not only present-day media, but also predicted changes was lacking. The few psychological discussions dealt mainly with ethics–and that, too, remains a very essential element–but no one was testing theory under these new conditions with a specific goal to understand the effects of the current and coming advances, not as a means of measuring whether we should pursue these high technology goals of strong AI or longevity with the potential for immortality. Neo-AnthropoGenic Psychology seeks to understand how classical offline theory like Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, Erikson’s stages of development, and many more apply to an online world.

My fundamental argument assumes these movements are inevitable. Our choice in the scientific and social communities is whether it will only be the fringes that follow these paths, or mainstream science will play the major role and as such have greater say in the ethical direction it takes. The human psyche is trapped within its physical constraints of evolution for the time being. We are learning the brain is far more plastic than once believed, but where do the limits lie? Will we be able to adapt to the world and lives we are developing in petrie dishes and assembly lines? How will we respond to strong AI (AGI) years hence when the supposed Singularity arrives? Will being “upgraded” become a necessity to stay competitive? If there is a growing income inequality gap now, how will that figure into a world where money can buy an improved brain? Finally, as noted in the TED e-book Homo Evolutis, are we witnessing speciation within the hominid family as Homo sapiens begins a new branch?

All these questions fit neatly under the umbrella of Neo-AnthropoGenic Psychology. Do you have any to add?

They are Us: The 5th Estate

 

Careful what you say. People will listen.

By way of introduction, Media Psychology: They are Us references the explosion of social media as a form of global communication complete with all the polarized viewpoints. It is my hope to engender conversation among individuals that find it difficult to contain their passion, yet have a desire to engage in dialog without the provocations found in media messages that attempt to disguise an agenda. Here is found a repository for sharing thoughts and exploring myriad ideas freely and openly. I will get the conversation going by posting weekly blogs on topics I hope will interest you, the reader. Strike that–you, the participant. Science has peer-reviewed journals that perpetually challenge research. Here, the peers are boundless and for each reader, a unique set of metrics applied that must only satisfy the standards they bring. I will include wiki links to point you to further research, and link more thorough findings when possible. My return on investment is an enjoyable and respectful debate; an understanding of different points of view and observations; and a collection of anecdotal data that supports my contention that social media is the next step in the evolution of self-government: the 5th Estate.

¿Por qué “La Finca quinto”

Estates of the realm originated in Middle Age Europe and defined class from highest to lowest ranking. After the fall of the Roman Empire & the chaos that ensued, the Church sought to consolidate power and re-establish order. Through alliances with the wealthy, and thus well-armed, they established rule anointed by divine authority that could only come from God. Who could argue with that? The first estate, therefore, included all clergy; the second included nobility & royalty other than the king; and the third, well, pretty much everybody else. Remember that part about divine authority coming from God? Turns out that spot was reserved for the king, hence the obedience to his authority. It seems in those days, checks and balances relied a lot on conscience and fear. We have to time travel to the 18th century to see another estate−the 4th−established as government evolved post Magna Carta into a more rigorously challenged entity:  The press.  Crossing an ocean, the US Constitutional form of government has 3 secular branches one might describe in terms of estates (executive, judicial & legislative) with the press’ role in the 4th estate firmly established by the 1st Amendment to the Constitution.

This brings us to the 21st and the emergence of what some argue is a 5th Estate. I am worthless advocate to the ideas shown in the preceding link as I only just found this reference at this writing. (This coming together of similar, but separate thoughts plays an important role to which I will return momentarily.) I will say several suggestions defining a 5th estate fall short, at first glance.

1. Trade unions operate as a political entity equivalent to the 3rd estate.
2. Pundits and media operating in opposition to the mainstream are still profit-driven organizations whose goal it is to become mainstream, thus they remain in the 4th estate.
3. Organized crime exists outside the laws governing society, a status antithetical to the idea of governance rendering them non-participants and thus unaffiliated.

This brings us to the remarkable tool called the Internet (not the 5th estate) that allows universal access to information that flows freely (almost there, but not quite); bloggers like me to self-publish (getting really hot); and real-time interaction with independent users (ding! ding! ding!). Add a touch of skepticism and curiosity, and you have the ingredients for a thoroughly cooked 5th estate. The great thing about connectivity to this living organism we call the World Wide Web is the ability to conceive of an idea, place it into the “cyber-incubator” that is social media, and watch it develop as it marries another person’s wandering idea, which in turn sires offspring that may never have been born had there not been this Internet dating service of sorts. Therein lies the singularly most important element of a 5th estate: Independent thought. Lots of it.

E pluribus unum

This Latin phrase recognized most often as the motto on the Seal of the United States has its beginnings in ancient Rome and has been attributed to artists and philosophers alike. “Out of many, one” is an appropriate allusion to the many colonies/states/immigrants/ethnicities that combined to make a nation. As its meaning has evolved, it only seems natural that it expand its reach in the 21st century on a global scale. Earlier I mentioned the importance of similar, but separate thoughts coming together. Social media accessed on the World Wide Web, the face of the Internet, does not constitute a 5th estate. The way we use these tools and how we present ourselves represents a newly emerging estate of power.

As the sum of all human knowledge gathers in a “cloud,” the concept of “original idea” is undergoing a thorough examination. By necessity, there is a portion of our creative thought we must simultaneously give credit to another and selflessly gift to the community writ large. What remains with us, however, is that tiny mustard seed that only our unique self can contribute according to each individual’s personal journey to the point of creation. This is the element−the 5th element, if you will−that must be arbiter of the words each commits herein and is necessary to define a 5th estate. The irony of this new estate is its existence depends upon its members being independent in thought; open to suggestion; skeptical of words; fearless in speech; thoughtful in voice; disconnected; unrepresentative; married to conviction; divorced of ideology; grounded in belief; and motivated by discovery.

In short, it must be you.