Machine Questions, Professions, Lives

[wolven7]

Every so often, I like to remind myself that I got accepted to a joint symposium held by two different philosophical societies, went on a trip to England, presented my paper which was beloved, and will likely be having said paper published in a volume in the near future.

That paper is here: http://events.cs.bham.ac.uk/turing12/proceedings/14.pdf Page 97, for me, but read the whole thing.

Also? I Did and Do All This Shit Right Here.

I do interviews (give and take), I consult on all kinds of projects, and I teach.
My professional life isn't perfect, but you know what? It's pretty damn close. Give me a $60k/year paycheck for all of that, and we'll see what we call it, then. ;)

Comments

[moonandserpent.livejournal.com]

Win.

[wolven.livejournal.com]

Getting There. :)

[cause-catyljan.livejournal.com]

Just started reading your paper. Have you read Iain M. Banks' Culture novels?

[wolven.livejournal.com]

I take it I really should?

[cause-catyljan.livejournal.com]

For so many reasons.

They revolve around a post-scarcity, space-faring civilisation made up of machine and human citizens. Its a utopian anarchy where equal rights and the liberty of individuals are amongst the highest ideals. All major decisions (such as the war featured in Consider Phlebas; the only war The Culture ever truly fought) are votes open to every individual, human or otherwise.

The reason I bring it up is because of how the society is structured. Although it has no leadership/government, the administrative centre of the Culture are the 'Minds' - supremely powerful AIs (ACIs?) who use fractions of their processing power to keep things running; while dedicating the majority of their time to indulging and bettering themselves (like everyone else.) The Minds are individuals; like the humans and 'drones' (who are also equals despite the term). They debate, clash, compromise and possess quirks (in Excession - my favourite; as it focuses more on the machines and is the most fun - several of the Minds mockingly discuss another, referring to it as "Meatfucker.")

Many questions are raised because the Culture can only function as it does because of the MInds. They are not in charge (unlike Neal Asher's 'Polity'), but human characters sometimes question their motives/intentions. The backstory of the Culture notes that several different species/civilisations came together peacefully, and that several of these were already machines.

The Culture exists as a collaboration between humans and ACIs. Your examination of TSCC put me in mind of the Culture: the future which could fit the possibilities you nod towards. At the very least you should read them because they are excellent (they can also be read in any order), but I do feel that you would find plenty to chew on in relation to your work. The stories themselves focus on the fringes - where The Culture meets other civilisations because, as Banks points out, stories set in utopias are really boring. His novels aren't - intelligent, humorous, imaginative, stirring, affecting, relentless, dark and violent (the "Digital Hells" featured in Surface Detail have to be read to be believed.)

I probably should have just given you this at the start.

[cause-catyljan.livejournal.com]

I should point out that I was a pretty mundane student; so if I completely missed the point of your essay, I apologise.

[wolven.livejournal.com]

You did not miss the point, no.