the human race does not have an impressive track record of predicting the future.
the future is most commonly predicted by extrapolating from the past and the present - from what is known, or thought to be known, about the past and the present.
anything that has been unknown or unnoticed, that “comes out of nowhere”, is by definition, ignored.
another factor is that predictions of the future are products of the human brain - i e, stories - and reflect the way human beings see the world - in binary terms, and in terms of direct, personal cause and effect.
yet another factor, in considering change in what is regarded as the “political” element of human life, is that people, individually and collectively, are assumed to be motivated by “beliefs”. these beliefs can be regarded as either “deeply held” and difficult to change, or skin deep and readily changed by being exposed to the blinding glare of truth, but it is assumed that people have them, and can be expected to act on them.
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all that being said , here are a few humble speculations - and some variations on those humble speculations.
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twin specters are haunting the human race - the specters of automation and surveillance.
it may seem ridiculous to call them “specters” as they are already here, but the question is whether they will completely “win” and “cover the earth”.
a) will the day come when machines literally “do all the work” - and can maintain themselves “forever” (i e indefinitely) and no human will have to do any “necessary” work , but will have to find something - anything - to fill up their days?
b) will the day come when no human has any privacy - when every human action is observed and recorded by “them”?
c) will the day come when every human action and thought (including dreams)are recorded?.
how close - in the year 2024 - do you think the world to realizing any of these possibilities?
a)it is practically there now
b) it is all nonsense - all science fiction suitable for children and geekish boys - humans will always be humans, just as they were in the days of gilgamesh and achilles and king arthur and shakespeare and queen victoria
c) somewhere in between, but closer to a)
d) somewhere in between, but closer to b)
e) other (specify) ___________________
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