Evolution from biological to mechanical
Cultural evolution
The dictionary definition of Evolution is any process of formation, growth or development. In biological evolution
the main principle behind this development is survival, we evolved to
become stronger and quicker, we also evolved to become intelligent. But
as we became intelligent biological evolution subsided to a new concept,
cultural evolution.
Cultural evolution moves at a much faster rate than biological
evolution and this is one reason why it isn't very well understood. But
as survival is still the main driving force behind life and that
intelligence and knowledge is currently the most important factor for
that survival, we can reasonably assume that cultural evolution will
progress in the direction of furthering intelligence and knowledge.
Intelligence Principle
Cultural evolution progressing in this way and being based upon the furthering of intelligence is known as the Intelligence Principle; this was suggested by Dr Steven J Dick.
The maintenance, improvement and perpetuation of knowledge and intelligence is the central driving force of cultural evolution, and that to the extent intelligence can be improved, it will be improved. -- (Dick 1996).
If cultural evolution progresses in this direction then due to
cultural evolution being much faster than biological, the limiting
factor becomes our biology and the capability of our brains. Currently
the closest and so most probable solution to this problem is artificial intelligence,
(AI). Experts in AI even believe it holds the potential and capability
for a postbiological earth in the next several generations, (Moravec
1988, 1999). AI could be utilized to solve scientific problems and to
analyse situations much faster and more accurately than our own minds.
Transition to purely postbiological
The
move to a complete postbiological stage has two different routes. One
route is the change of human consciousness from a biological vessel into
a mechanical; this would require the digitisation of human
consciousness. A mechanical based vessel would increase the
computational power and intelligence of the human consciousness
exponentially, and also eliminate the weakness of a biological form.
This route is therefore a logical progression through cultural evolution
with survival and the pursuit of knowledge and intelligence at its
center.
The first route requires a high level of technology, therefore
would take a long time, this results in another possible road to a
completely postbiological civilisation (PBC). The other route is the
complete replacement of human consciousness by AI, for this the human
race would co-exist peacefully with our own creation of AI which is
scientific, objective, and free from selfish human nature.
The future of the human race through cultural evolution is not
known and the possible postbiological outcomes are infinite, so to
address what we could evolve into is almost futile. But Hans Moravec predicted that
What awaits us is not oblivion but rather a future which, from our present vantage point, is best described as 'postbiological' or even 'supernatural'. It is a world swept away by the tide of cultural change, usurped by its own artificial progeny.
Evolution of a postbiological universe
The
possible forms a PBC may take are as diverse as in biological
evolution, if not more. But from our knowledge of technology and with
the intelligence principle being the main driving force we may make some
predictions.
Limitations on a postbiological civilization
Heat dispersion
The
current major limitations imposed upon computation are limited storage
space, processing power, dust gathering chips, inefficiency of their
human operators and heat dispersion. The only one that is fundamental
and fixed is heat dispersion because this is due to the laws of physics.
In computation the greater the amount of information to be calculated,
(I) the greater the energy needed (E), but the energy needed is also
proportional to another factor, the temperature, (T).
E=KIT
Where K is a constant. Therefore, the greater the temperature the
greater the energy needed, and so the greater the inefficiency is also.
If we now apply the Intelligence principle to this then a PBC would
move to decrease the temperature and so increase the efficiency and
computational power.
In the universe the greatest source of heat transfer is via radiation,
therefore a PBC would look to migrate to an area of low radiation and
so low temperature. If we now observe the galaxy we see that the most
radiation is generated by the galactic centre by both the high stellar density and also highly energetic events such as supernova. Therefore, the coldest regions are away from the galactic centre or inside giant molecular clouds.
Giant molecular clouds although being very low in temperature (T~10K)
are areas of giant star formation and so the temperature in one location
is irregular, which would make it unsuitable for a PBC.
Metals
Another
factor affecting a PBC would be the abundance of metals and heavier
elements needed for expansion and repair. The highest concentration of
these elements is found near the galactic centre, where they are created
by massive stars. But to a PBC with advanced technology the production
of metals via stellar nucleosynthesis
in stars is highly inefficient, converting only a small amount of
hydrogen to heavier nuclei and the high loss of energy that is produced
in the nuclear fusion.
Therefore, a PBC would most likely have the capability to produce
heavier nuclei through controlled fusion and minimise the energy lost.
Galactic technological zone
By
taking the two factors of heat dispersion and heavy nuclei into account
we can find a "galactic technological zone" (GTZ), similar to the
principle of a "galactic habitable zone"
(GHZ) for biological life. Where temperatures are low enough to
maximise computing efficiency but there is also matter available for
fusion, this most likely lies on the outskirts of the galaxy.
Migration theory
A
migration hypothesis exists that takes the GTZ into account. A PBC
would most likely not think on a similar time scale to us, therefore
although a migration to GTZ may seem inefficient and lengthy to us, a
PBC could consider this on timescales of 10^6 years, where the increased
computing efficiency received far outweighs the energy required in
transportation. The idea of interstellar migrations already exists in
literature, (e.g. Badescu and Cathcart 2000).
Implications of postbiological civilization in astrobiology
Assumptions needed for a postbiological civilization
In the search for extraterrestrial intelligence
(SETI) the main focus is on biological life. But the timescale of
intelligent biological life could be very short; already some experts
believe that we could see a postbiological earth in the next few
generations. According to Steven J. Dick, for a PBC to arise other than our own and be present, we must make five assumptions:
- That evolution by natural selection results in intelligence beyond the earth;
- That extraterrestrial intelligence is older than human intelligence;
- That intelligence results in culture;
- That culture evolves; and
- That increasing intelligence is a central goal of cultural evolution.
Timescale over which a postbiological civilization can form
We
know that assumptions 1, 3, 4, and 5 can take place as we have observed
or are observing them on the Earth. For assumption 2 we must consider
the L term of the Drake equation, and the timescale over which intelligent biological life can form. Around 1 Billion years after the start of the universe the first sun-like star had formed, and there were enough heavy elements around for planet formation (1998, Larson and Bromm 2001).
From the earth we know that intelligent life can form within 5 billion
years, this puts a lower time scale on which intelligent life can form, 6
billion years. And from the current rate of technological progression
the leap from intelligent life to a PBC is negligible compared to the
astronomical timescale. This means we could already be looking at a
postbiological universe. In our own galaxy the first sun-like stars
formed at around 4 billion years therefore we could already have a PBC
in our galaxy that formed 3-4 billion years ago.
Implications for the search for life
If we consider this possibility of a PBC in our galaxy we are still faced with Fermi's paradox.
However many of the proposed solutions for Fermi's paradox also hold
true for a PBC. In terms of the search for extraterrestrial life and astrobiology
because of the almost infinite possible forms a PBC could take and our
lack of understanding of these we would effectively be blind in this
search. For this reason even though there is a logical argument for the
existence of PBCs our best hopes remain with looking for biological
life.
Ethics
While in some circles the expression "postbiological evolution" is roughly synonymous with human genetic engineering, it is used most often to refer to the general application of the convergence of nanotechnology, biotechnology, information technology, and cognitive science (NBIC) to improve human performance.
Since the 1990s, several academics (such as some of the fellows of the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies) have risen to become cogent advocates of the case for human enhancement while other academics (such as the members of President Bush's Council on Bioethics) have become its most outspoken critics.
Advocacy of the case for human enhancement is increasingly becoming synonymous with "transhumanism",
a controversial ideology and movement which has emerged to support the
recognition and protection of the right of citizens to either maintain
or modify their own minds and bodies; so as to guarantee them the freedom of choice and informed consent of using human enhancement technologies on themselves and their children.
Neuromarketing consultant Zack Lynch argues that neurotechnologies will have a more immediate effect on society than gene therapy and will face less resistance as a pathway of radical human enhancement. He also argues that the concept of "enablement" needs to be added to the debate over "therapy" versus "enhancement".
Although many proposals of human enhancement rely on fringe science, the very notion and prospect of human enhancement has sparked public controversy.
Many critics argue that "human enhancement" is a loaded term which has eugenic overtones because it may imply the improvement of human hereditary traits to attain a universally accepted norm of biological fitness (at the possible expense of human biodiversity and neurodiversity),
and therefore can evoke negative reactions far beyond the specific
meaning of the term. Furthermore, they conclude that enhancements which
are self-evidently good, like "fewer diseases", are more the exception
than the norm and even these may involve ethical tradeoffs, as the controversy about ADHD arguably demonstrates.
However, the most common criticism of human enhancement is that it is or will often be practiced with a reckless and selfish
short-term perspective that is ignorant of the long-term consequences
on individuals and the rest of society, such as the fear that some
enhancements will create unfair physical or mental advantages to those
who can and will use them, or unequal access to such enhancements can
and will further the gulf between the "haves" and "have-nots".
Accordingly, some advocates, who want to use more neutral language, and advance the public interest in so-called "human enhancement technologies", prefer the term "enablement" over "enhancement";
defend and promote rigorous, independent safety testing of enabling
technologies; as well as affordable, universal access to these
technologies.
