Two news items got me thinking (yet again) about the random impact of technology on society …i.e. on us all! The first was about the imminence of designer babies (the ultimate in 1 % ism) and the second was a Toronto Star article on the famous Sci-fi novelist, William Gibson. Here are some quotes from the article, which echo several of my own long-held opinions on the subject. Gibson: “ The developers of new technologies have no idea of what those technologies are going to do. Most effects are unanticipated, as the technology is instantly absorbed into the culture…But we don’t have any choice. The invisible hand of the market brings these things forth…My colleague, Bruce Sterling said once in passing that technology trumps ideology every time. I’ve been pondering that ever since and in many ways I think it is true…It doesn’t flatter our sense of who we are as a species to admit that, but with sufficient humility we could come to that it is in fact the case, as terrifying as it may be….Emergent technologies, the biggest drivers in human history, are completely random”.

• I agree with Gibson that the market presently “brings these things forth”, but not with the fact that “we don’t have any choice”. My idea is that we could have an elected body that makes decisions, but also an advisory, respected body, a Senate, that is chosen because they have the Wisdom of Elders (not because of which party is in power and makes the appointments). Like Gibson, I didn’t anticipate social media, but I did anticipate the busy-ness, distractedness, disconnection from personal relationships, loss of attention span and the acceleration of Warhol’s 15 Minutes of Fame, which is now showing up in studies. How to choose such a Senate, would benefit from having a Ken Wilber-like notion of evolved consciousness/ Quality in decision. Wilber seeks to map levels of consciousness, as we are presently attempting to map our genes. We can access these different levles of consciousnesss through deep, skillful (usually guided by a Master) meditation.
• I think that the Introduction of New Technologies is important enough to merit a separate, national governmental department/ ministry, not only because of Gibson’s observation that Technology trumps Ideology, but that it is especially, particularly, urgently important since the 21st century technologies can be incorporated within human beings (designer babies are the first step) and they can become mutated and self-reproducing. At present, these technologies are robotics, genetics and nanotechnology..but the list will probably lengthen.
• An observation: Present tendencies within the USA favour an unregulated Free Market as the ultimate Capitalist, American Solution. We have to inquire more deeply, more profoundly within the Science/ Religion question….beyond knee jerk either/ or …into the specific implications. I think a Deep Spirituality movement is the only thing that can bring vertical Quality into the Public Discussion…which is what several organisations are presently exploring, including the Forge Guild, of which I am a member. Check out our initiative www.globalspiritualcitizenship.org and sign up! We recently offered it to the Occupy Wall St movement as guiding principles.