Patrick Wood – Few people really truly experienced the passage from modernity into post-modernity (1970- 2023). Incremental changes in how we view reality obscured the journey and left many with empty-headed thoughts of “Wherever you go, there you are.”

However, there were those who carefully watched the parade go by and left behind plenty of history and analysis for us to examine, like evangelical Christian philosopher Francis Shaffer (How Should We Then Live: The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture, 1976), futurist Alvin Toffler (Future Shock, 1971), and French philosopher Jean Baudrillard (Simulacra and Simulation, 1981).

In my previous essay, Reality Is Escaping Out The Back Door, I introduced Baudrillard’s concept of simulation and simulacra and posed the statement, “The Total Collapse Of Reality Could Be At Hand.”

Why? Among other things, AI development is advancing at a geometric rate, potentially doubling every 12 to 18 months, threatening to displace what is left of reality with a simulacrum. Baudrillard demonstrated this progression from reality to anti-reality:

Whereas representation attempts to absorb simulation by interpreting it as a false representation, simulation envelops the whole edifice of representation itself as a simulacrum. Such would be the successive phases of the image:

— it is the reflection of a profound reality;

— it masks and denatures a profound reality;

— it masks the absence of a profound reality;

— it has no relation to any reality whatsoever;

— it is its own pure simulacrum.

The Matrix

Millions saw the 1999 film The Matrix, a cyber-punk, science fiction film that rocked the world. Even today, people will exclaim, “We are living in the matrix,” while not having a clue about what they are talking about.

In fact, the movie was thoroughly steeped in Jean Baudrillard’s philosophy. His book, Simulacra and Simulation, was required reading by the entire cast. The book appeared in one scene, and many references throughout would never have been seen unless you read it in the first place – but it is there.

In modernity, the subject rules over the object. This is reversed in post-modernity with the triumph of the object over the subject. In the Matrix, machines are seen ruling over man rather than man ruling over the machines. We can see this everywhere today. And the struggle of the resistance is just as existential today as it was in the movie.

Objects That Control Us

Man is increasingly dominated by objects that he has created: AI, smart phones, social media, viruses, vaccines, etc. Each layer increasingly masks reality while replacing it with hyper-reality, all of which combines to create a larger simulacrum. In the end the simulacrum has no relation to any reality whatsoever; It is anti-reality.

I have strongly warned about the mechanistic nature of Technocracy and Transhumanism in my book, The Evil Twins of Technocracy and Transhumanism. These devalue what it is to be human and they break the social connections necessary to hold society together.

These effects are blatantly obvious in the world of AI, where headlines like this are common: Tech bros like OpenAI’s Sam Altman keep obsessing about replacing the ‘median human’ with AI. Another article it puts like this:

Altman’s hope is that artificial general intelligence (AGI) will have roughly the same intelligence as a “median human that you could hire as a co-worker.” It’s a disconcerting assertion, considering that it really sounds like Altman is looking to replace the work of normal people with a not-yet-realized AGI.

In other words, if you happen to live a “median” life, you could soon be out of a job.

Altman’s solution for the resultant and rampant unemployment is Universal Basic Income, which dates back to the Technocracy movement in 1930s. However, Altman sees those displaced souls not just as unemployed, but rather as “unemployables” – they won’t be capable of finding a job.

They will not miss employment, however, as reality slips further away in their rear view mirror. They will be living in a simulacrum.

Indeed, they will be living in the Matrix, where some artificial reality occupies their minds while their bodies are harvested for energy.

Baudrillard was harshly critical of the first installment of the Matrix, and wanted to nothing with the two sequels that followed. Personally, I think the Matrix slapped him in the face with the true nature of what he had written about for years.

The Way Out

The destruction of reality is underway and it could be over in two or three years. The masses will follow the pied piper “who attracts a following through charisma or false promises”.

Not for you? To avoid being sucked down the black hole of anti-reality, there are things you can do now.

♦ Decide whether or not you want to take the “blue pill” or the “red pill”.
Many will choose the “blue pill” and will be happy with it.
♦ Commit to hold on to reality at any cost
♦ Learn how to spot simulations and simulacra
♦ Eliminate or limit the use of objects that want to dominate you
♦ Always be mindful of your own humanity
♦ Seek to connect with those who are committed to the above.

SF Source Technocracy News Oct 2023