In 1998 the most prominent humanist and biological thinker Edward O. Wilson published what for me what a transformative book Consilience The Unity of Knowledge, Knopf 1998 . p.270. Keep in mind this is the warning in 1998 and with the development of Artificial Intelligence and Geo and Bio Engineering Edward Wilson’s warnings warrant our immediate attention. For those of you not familiar with the various tales of Faust it involves a person with an unsatiable quest for knowledge and power. A demon appears and offers him all that knowledge can convey in return for one thing which you can already guess.
” WHAT WAS IT THAT MEHPISTOPHILES OFFERED FAUST, AND HOW WAS IT THAT THE AMBITIOUS DEOCTOR WAS TO PAY? FROM CHISTOPHER MARLIEWE’S PLAY TO GOETHER’S EPIC POEM THE BARGAIN WAS ESSENTIALLY THE SAME; EARTHY POWER AND PLEASURE IN EXHANGEF FOR YOUR SOUL. THERE WERE DIFFERENCES, MARLIEW’S FAUST WAS IREEVOCABLY DAMENED WHEN HE MADE THE WROING CHOICE; GOETHE’S FAUST WAS SAVED BECAUSE HE COULD NOT FEEL HAPPINESS PROMISTED TO HIM THROUGH MATERIAL GAIN. MARLOEW UPHELD THE PROTESTANT PIETY GOETHE UPHELD THE IDEALS OF HUMMNISM….
IN OUR PREEPITONS OF THE HUMAN CONDITION WE HAV3 MOVED BEYLOND MARLOEW AND GOETHE. TODAY WE FACE NOT ONE BUT TWO METHISTOPHEAN BARGAINS WHICH CAN BE DISTRINGUISHED. FROM THEM AS WITH THE ORIGINAL HARD CHOICES MUST BE MADE…
THE FIRST CHOICE WAS ACUITALLY MADE CENTURIES AGO WHEN HUMMANITY ACDEPTED THE RATCHET OF PROGRESS, THE MORE KONWLEDE PEOPLE ACQUIRE, THE MORE THEY AE ABLE TO INCREASE THEIR NUMBERS AND ALTER THE ENVIRONMENT, WHEREUPON THE MORE THEY NEED NEW KNOWLEDGE JUST TO STAY ALIVE IN A HUMAMN DOMINATED WORLD. THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT STEADILY SHRINKS, OFFERING CORRESONDINGLY LESS AND LESS PER CAPITAL RETURN IN ENERGY AND RESOURCES. ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY BECOMES THE ULTIMATE PROTHESIS.
TAKE ELECTRIC POWER AWAY FROM A TRIBE OF AUSTRAILIAN ABORIGINES ANED LITTLE OR NOTHING HAPPENS. TAKE AWAY ELECTRIC POWER FROM CALIFORNIA AND MILLIONS WILL DIE. SO, TO UNDERSTAND WHY HUMANITY HAS COME TO RELATE THE ENVIRONMENT IN TIS WAY IS MORE THAN A RHETORICAL QUESTION. GREED DEMANDS AN EXPANATION. THE RATCHET OF PROGRESS SHOULD BE CONSTANTLY RE EXAMINED AND NEW CHOICES CONSIIDERED.
THE SECOND MEPHISTOHIAN PROMISE GENERATE BUT THE FIRST AND STRAGELY ECHOING THE ORIGINAL ENLIGHTENMENT IS DUE IN A FEW DECADES. IT SAYS: YOU MAY ALTER THE BIOLOGICAL NATURE OF THE HUMAN SPECIES IN ANY DIRECTION YOU WISH OR LEAVE IT ALONE. EITHER WAY, GENETIC EVOLUTION IS ABOUT TO BECOME CONSCIOUS AND VOLITIONAL AND USER IN A NEW EPOCH IN THE HISTORY OF LIFE.”
In today’s environment some would take issue with Wilson’s characterization of the Indigenous Australians and most a few decades younger than me would never have heard the Faustian legend. However, as we struggle to use new technologies and tools to obtain some modicum of sustainability and survivability, we must always ask is there a better way to proceed using the historical knowledge of both Indigenous and Modern culture?
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
From your own experiences how relevant are Edward Wilson’s words to your own professional lives?

Sample Solution

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