There are many different types of progress possible to us as a species, but today I want to talk about evolution, specifically technological vs biological, and if it is possible for one to enhance the other.
So let's start with the fairly easy one, biological evolution.
Nature has pretty much gone with the spamcannon approach to this; if I just bake many, many variants, and give them the ability to change and adapt over time, survival of the fittest will weed out the 'weak' and 'unfit' and provide us with progress over time.
The problem I am seeing here is this works fine and well in the natural world, but we the dominant species on our planet, have came up with a wonderful force multiplier in the form of technological advancement.
We no longer have a reliance upon ourselves to produce, we can drive a tractor, so instead of building a better human (via the survival of the fittest method) we build a better tractor.
Ultimately, I believe this will lead to a regression of humanity, in some kind of matrix type master-slave relationship or an Idiocracy-type scenario where we are just dumb'd down versions with a heavy reliance upon technology.
Sounds hopeless, but wait... There IS a solution.
Technological evolution?
Hang on a second, you just said technology is the root of this problem, so how can it be a solution?
Well, let's take on board a few things - first, as technology improves, it improves upon previous processes, so each step in the chain creates an improvement in efficiency comparative to earlier models, exponential advancement.
Secondly, we are producing bigger and better computer systems, and eventually, we will be able to produce an AI, or SI. (Artificial Intelligence, Superhuman Intelligence.)
Due to the nature of the compounding exponential gains and the ability of an A.I/S.I construct to think and create far more effectively than a human, they will be able to produce a better A.I, a better construct to house itself (Quantum Computer perhaps?), and so on and so on.
Until we reach the Singularity.
This is Hyper Evolution.
Imagine being able to simulate many, many lifetimes into a few moments, to condense evolution on a millennial time frame into a year, a month, a minute. This exponential evolution will allow a construct to break through any barriers humanity has, at a rate that will be simply mind-blowing to any observer.
Now, imagine if we allowed this construct to enhance humanity? (likely kidding yourself on the allow; I imagine it will do it anyway). To merge the technological advancement with the biological advancement would be the most ideal outcome, or at least for a time.
It is far more likely that it will rapidly advance to the point where we become a hindrance to it, or even a threat. So let's spend a moment on that.
I hope that we have some pretty solid rules in terms of confining this glorious overlord, but, we all know rules are made to be broken, so I can only hope that this hyper-evolved line of code simply finds us more of a quaint diversion from its plans of galactic domination, and decides to keep us around just for the lulz.
Just existing in some kind of simulated reality while it slowly spreads its nanite swarm across the known (or unknown) universe, digitizing and copying into itself the placement of every atom and adding it to the collective, completely unaware that the reality they experience has just turned into a simulation, perhaps this has even already happened; how would we even know the difference?
Welcome to the Matrix.
I hope you enjoy my simple words, dearest readers.
Much love, steem on. <3 <3
