Our Culture Lives at the Verge of Disaster
The first article of the new trend of our column.
Puedes leer y compartir este Articulo en Español.
We are recklessly waking the edge of a thousand-meter cliff with our eyes closed and feeling exalted because we think this time we are going to excel ourselves and beat everyone else... so we start running!
The drama is that we don’t see that we are at the edge of a cliff!
Fundamentally, society’s building blocks are people together with their character and beliefs held. We could add, with a strong influence on how they relate to one another – there’s not much more.
When in 1440 Gutenberg invented the printing press, there were the clergy and religious leaders who feared losing control and dissent over their authority; and there was hope by religious reformers and dissenters that they could change things around. Also, the artisans, scribes, calligraphers, and manuscript illuminators were afraid for their Jobs and livelihood; and the emerging middle class was hopeful for social mobility; people could access knowledge and attain personal growth. Similarly, writers, poets, storytellers, and revolutionaries hoped wider reach for their ideas to be distributed and to achieve political reform and emancipation.
They were not completely wrong, but ever since the printed word and images saw the light of day, the common people have craved sensationalism, yellow journalism and pornography… things haven’t changed much since then until now.
“55% of U.S. adults report regularly interacting with AI, with 27% engaging almost constantly or several times a day, and 28% about once a day or several times a week” (Pew Research Center). Also “55% of Americans aged 18–29 feel comfortable discussing mental health concerns with AI chatbots” (AXIOS) and “10% of Millennials and 11% of Gen Z individuals in the U.S. prefer AI companions over traditional emotional support” (Key Research) with over 150.000 chats reviewed). We are so desperate for support and alleviate the burden of living, than instead of seeking it with people that we have close by and are in our circle of friends and family, we trust a machine that simulates care.
I am not insensitive to the huge need for emotional support. But how is it that our contemporary culture disqualifies religion and spiritual practices, also loathes our cultural heritage and labels men as source of oppression; and failed to realize that it would backlash in our young and debunk our cultural structure?
The age of opportunity that opens AI
Never in the history of man kind was power so available to the common person as today. For $24 you have at your fingertips the capacity to organize and design a strategy to develop your livelihood and ‘create’ your life. Why are we choosing to have AI interpret our pet’s picture to humanize it, and post both on social media? We are using the most powerful tool man has ever created to gain a quick laugh and a like on a post. Are we blindfolded?
In US, 50% of families earn less of the Minimum Cost of Living, 22.7% workers are low-wage erners, and 44% of full-time workers don’t make enough to cover their family's basic needs (Statista). “Over 60% of the world's employed population are in the informal economy” (Wikipedia). “Nearly 50% of Americans will be diagnosed with a mental illness at some point in their lives” (Verywell Health) and “approximately 26% of American adults experience a diagnosable mental disorder each year” (Hopkins Hospital). Worldwide, “approximately 970 million individuals are living with a mental disorder, with anxiety and depressive disorders” (World Health Org.).
The way out of a hole is twofold: stop digging and aim up!
“What’s up?” you may ask.
This may seem theoretical, but bear with me. Plato’s proposal is that there is an Eternal Form or Idea that reflects on the physical world; things are good because they reflect on the Eternal Good or a flower is beautiful, because they reflect on the Eternal Beauty. There are some things that are better than others; they have a bigger share of that goodness, Plato would say.
If you reflect on it, there are things that are good: like a job that provides for ourselves and our family, or a car that is dependable for our transportation. When we responsibly aim at it, our lives become more grounded, and we become more confident… we become Better!
The greater share that a thing or circumstance has with the good, the better it makes me if I seek it, and even more if I reach it… that begs the question: what is the BEST of all? What is The Good?
The answer to that question, by definition, is what we call God!
- Jordan Peterson
I know the word God has too much social and historical weight. It has been used and misused by so many as a weapon and for the most heinous crimes. If you can’t call it God, then know in your heart that there is a Good that attracts everything that looks for it, just like a “good job” can transform your life for the better, if you aim at it; so it will if you aim at The Good: not only your whole life will become better, but everything around you.
Just to put things into perspective, that is the path of a Hero.
The Good or God calls Abraham: “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.” (Genesis 12:1). God takes Abraham from the place he knows to that place he doesn’t know. God says “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3). God demands of Abraham to “Walk before me faithfully and be blameless” (Genesis 17:1) and "I will be your God and the God of your descendants" (Genesis 17:7). Then Abraham reminds God, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless” (Genesis 15:2) and God promised him a son, and added, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them (…) So shall your offspring be – Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:5-6).
The Path of the Hero is one of faith, knowing that The Good calls on him and walks with him all the way to the end.
You may say to yourself: “I don´t want to be a hero. I just want to go about my business, earn what I need and have a good time.”
Then I would say, “don´t you see the world crumbling around you. You are going to wait until disaster is at your doorstep to react? Who is going to save you, the government, your mom?”
You are running blindfolded at the edge of the thousand-meter precipice, open your eyes and take true responsibility for your life!
The dilemma of Intelligence with AI
If a terrorist, who wants to destroy the illusion of safety in a society, decides to destabilize it using AI, then he or she will be able to cause more damage than if he/she had to rely only in his/her own intelligence.
If your objective is clear, and I would add and so your intentions, then you will get a path towards what you are aiming for; but if someone who lacks confidence and requires emotional support continuously uses AI, that is what he/she is going to get: running around in circles.
You are the intelligent part of AI… it depends how intelligent you are, on how clear is your aim and your intention are – then the outcome will be truly useful.
For those that may be lost
You are your habits. You can use AI to change your habits. It is quite effective… but you must make your effort! Aim UP, even if you are not sure what up is… in the process you will become clearer.