Tag: utopia

Taller, Deeper, Greener.

I am trying to think forward 50 years or so for a new book.

Taller, deeper and greener seem to be the generally accepted trends. But this misses the alienation technology and architecture are causing in our collective psyche. I want to explore the idea of libertarian micro nations, e.g. http://www.seasteading.org and how technology, freedom and architecture play off each other.

Architecture and Social planning can help recast the world at a human scale. In a village, anytime from 20K BC to 100 years ago, anybody interested in performing in front off an audience could learn to play the guitar or source a tambourine. If they were good: people would listen, tap their feet and sway smiling. If they were great: people would travel a whole day to come from the neighbouring villages just to listen. Fulfilment within reach of all. And a good carpenter or painter would have had the same opportunities.

These days, with 7 Billion people sharing and posting to Youtube – even if you are great, there will be another 100K people better, prettier or luckier – who do the same as you do, probably while also riding a unicycle or playing a ukulele. Everybody ends up listening to the same few acts. These egos become hyper inflated and out of touch, while the majority, seeking the same recognition that has already been gobbled up, whither into depression or end up in a cubicle.

Both intellectually and physically we need to operate at a much more human scale.

Perhaps a hierarchical devolution of power to communities and a greater focus on local activity will help close The Great Divide. (I realise that Mr. Stiglitz is discussing economic inequality, but the message remains the same).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05v7tbr
http://www.fcl.ethz.ch

(image: http://josueperez79.deviantart.com/art/Future-City-1-309682562)

Update:
Interestingly Google seems to be thinking about this too: https://plus.google.com/+LarryPage/posts/M1twDYHaui3
http://www.sidewalkinc.com

Non Human Rights

Corporations are disembodied, cold legal constructs. Despite their alien nature, and their tendency to exhibit psychopathic behaviour, they are classed as people with freedom of speech, and even some form of freedom of religion.

Whereas Chimps are warm bodied, emotional primates who share 98% of our DNA, and like us love, grieve and care for their infirm. They even look like us – yet are have no rights and are often kept in appalling conditions.

Recently there have been signs that as a society we might be ready to broaden the concept of personhood to include our cousins. In a sense this is the extension of civil rights to other entities.

As a Sci-Fi author future developments in this direction are fascinating. A porous boarder between various types of people: human; animal; algorithmic; (and alien), is great world building and back story.

http://www.wired.com/2015/04/chimpanzee-rights-may-become-reality/

Support: http://www.nonhumanrightsproject.org
(image: http://benmauro.deviantart.com/art/Primate-Anatomy-tutorial-439863842)