Dear Good Guys,
I look forward to a combination of good traditional methods, hand in hand with good technologies, combined to bring good to this troubled world. But in that case, how to develop such good technologies at all?
I remind readers: My writings are based on the premise that certain medical, genetic and other technological developments ...
(1) are inevitable and coming anyway, cannot be halted, cannot be ignored;
(2) have a high chance of being misused by bad actors unless we use them in beneficial ways;
(3) can be shown to be effective and safe to use; and
(4) can be introduced in an ethical way respectful of individual free choice, civil and human rights ...
... and I ask, how should such technologies be best employed to heal some of what troubles this world??
My book asks ...
~ ~ ~
How can billions of people, much of this world’s population, be convinced to willingly and voluntarily change themselves, freely and by their own decision, without forceful threat or government compulsion, all in a manner respectful of fundamental civil liberties, protecting the individual’s prerogative to choose and common democratic values?
In a world in which millions refuse even very safe vaccines proven to save lives, doing so for reasons of politics or other tightly held personal beliefs, it would seem impossible.
I believe there is a way.
And should only large numbers be persuaded to do so, even if far from everyone, great, positive changes will sweep through the world still.
Mahayana Buddhism speaks of the Paramitas, the many “Virtues” which are cherished and encouraged in people wishing to walk a good path in life: These include generosity, moderation of desires, honesty, wisdom, diligence and vigor, patience, tolerance and endurance, determination, goodwill, friendliness, loving-kindness, equanimity, serenity, and general ethical conduct.
But how do we ethically convince anyone to change their physical make-up in order to better personify such ethical virtues?
I believe that if we fail to undertake these measures, leaving human nature as it now, and our society on its current course of violence, war, poverty, inequality and a collapsing environment, then our planet faces a very dark future indeed. I believe that the likelihood of global tragedy resulting from inaction outweighs the dangers of coordinated action. Only positive improvements to human character will prevent future societal calamity.
Thus, I present in this chapter an approach by which vital changes can be accomplished ethically, voluntarily, in ways fully honoring the human rights of the individual. People can be persuaded, making use of human nature and what it pleases us to do.
To begin, let me underline my belief that only moderate changes, rather than radical changes to human emotions and human tastes, would nonetheless have wide ranging, positive effects both in people’s lives and in society as a whole. The question remains, however, how to bring about such a mild human revolution morally, respecting individual autonomy and choice. That is my central concern.
Is there a way to persuade free people to voluntarily, without threat, by their own wish and informed consent, choose in their independent personal discretion to be better people?
I propose a way that people can be so persuaded, even if it will not be easy.
But first, let's not get ahead of ourselves:
STEP 1 - WE FIRST NEED TO HAVE THE GOOD THINGS:
Of course, in order to improve humans, human improving technologies will be needed. That is the first step, a vital step, but no easy step. I can envision a scenario in which the scattered laboratories of ethical and concerned, Buddhism-inspired and other “white hat” scientists of many humanitarian creeds, forming a network around the world, work together at the forefront of these developments. Concern for humanity is not exclusive to Buddhists by any means, and can be found in religions and philosophies across world culture. Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, atheists, secular humanists, and humanitarians of many stripes share in celebrating kindness and goodwill toward others, charity, moderation of desires, ecology, honesty, and non-violence. They share a wish that the human race survives and thrives, and that we can defeat our most pressing social problems. Thus, although I hope, expect, call upon and encourage good, concerned Buddhist scientists and researchers everywhere to be actively involved, working with others for this common cause, there is nothing about the required scientific and engineering research and development that has to be “exclusively Buddhist.” We must have people of many nations and beliefs work together for humanity’s hope.
Writing today, in the 2020’s, it is quite conceivable that I am being overly optimistic about the very possibility of such discoveries and inventions, that I am naïve to think that the human body and mind can be so easily manipulated, that these technologies will be safe and free of unexpected side-effects and outcomes, that all will turn out well. I admit to my rose colored optimism. It is unclear what will happen next week, let alone a century from now. Even so, I have faith that much can be done because I still have tremendous faith in the creativity and ingenuity of our scientists and medical researchers. Let’s see what happens. In truth, much of my hope stems from desperation, from the fact that I do not see any other good options regarding how we can successfully change human character on a wide scale in the several ways necessary to stop us killing ourselves and destroying our planet. Even now, it is a race against time. I am hoping for a medical miracle and future cure because hope is sometimes all that a dying man has, and our civilization appears to be dying. Anyway, if I am wrong about my predictions, then I am just wrong, and nothing like this should be done. Hopefully, we will avoid the worst outcomes to the earth’s pressing problems even if so, although I do not think so for most of those problems. If I am right, then I am right, and we will save this sinking ship. It may not be chance that we are on the brink of mastering technologies to allow us to take evolution into our own hands at about the same time that we have mastered technologies that would allow us to end ourselves in smog and mushroom clouds.
Naturally, there are great risks, for any tool that can be used for good can be turned to evil. Dictators may use these technologies to tame and enslave the populace into passivity or obedience. Corporations may aim for compliant workers and willing consumers. Scientists are not always to be trusted, for there are misguided and unethical scientists too, including fanatics of all creeds and nations. In 1995, a quasi-Buddhist cult organization in Japan, known as the Aum Shinrikyo, through the efforts of chemists, engineers, medical doctors, and other highly educated members who were all followers of the cult’s ‘guru,’ built and operated factories to produce sarin gas and a variety of other weapons of mass destruction, culminating in their deadly use within the subways of Tokyo. Soviet psychiatrists cooperated in placing political dissidents into mental hospitals and, of course, terrible medical experiments on human beings have been conducted in places as diverse as Nazi Germany and the United States. A nation’s military may seek to develop versions of these technologies for aggression. Like a hammer, any tool can be used for good or evil, to build bridges or as a weapon.
In the United States, it appears that the Pentagon and various intelligence agencies are very much aware of possible future scenarios, so are not neglecting preliminary steps even now. It may be that the governments of the same nations which stockpile atomic bombs and other ‘weapons of mass destruction’ will take the lead on developing many of these technologies, for social control of their own people or as weapons of offense.
That is a central reason to hope that “white hat” researchers take the lead in these efforts in order to (hopefully) head-off and prevent misuse on the unwilling.
But once the technologies are developed, how to persuade folks to use them ... especially in a world which recently saw a simple vaccine rejected by so many?
... more on that next time ...
Gassho, J
stlah
The AI, right now, is a potentially runaway device ... like a nuclear reactor. I would not be so quick to assume that it will "protect us" if we cannot control it. 
for positive poetry 優婆塞 台 婆
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