Valencia Black: Question Everything Section XIV

Going into this assignment I did not know what to expect from my section on Question Everything. I read Section 14, Now What? These six chapters discuss climate change, the future use of AI, and the importance of isolation. It is good to have an open mind when reading philosophical books. They can really get you to think deeply and reconsider your current opinions or beliefs. 

Climate Change

It begins talking about climate change and economic issues. Right-wing denialists say that climate change is not happening or that humans did not cause it. This chapter discusses nihilism, if all is already lost, nothing matters anyways. Essentially we are doomed but we should still try to change our ways to make the world better (How can we create a healthier planet?). We can still find meaning and purpose in the world even if it seems that it is doomed regardless. There is value in that, “as long as that life is woven into a bigger story that makes it meaningful”. We can focus on the present and engage in what we personally find meaningful, this amplifies the hope in the world.

(Examples of climate change: wildfires, floods, droughts, global warming, etc.)

 On the other hand, moral ambiguity is also discussed. It is unclear if activities such as traveling, buying cheap clothing, or dining out are morally right and good for the Earth. This chapter tells a story about a buddhist who wants to alleviate world suffering. In order to do so, she travels to another country to learn the criteria to do so. Even though she has good intentions, there are some negative outcomes that result from her travel. Fossil fuels were burned, underpaid workers made the food she ate, and the clothes she made were made in factories that violate several labor laws (unfair wages, long hours, poor work conditions, etc.). Climate change is not reversible, but there are ways that we can slow it down. We should try implementing better practices and learn from the past, to make the present and future better. Small steps can still lead to goodness in this world. We are a part of nature. Once we realize that we are not separate from nature, we can save it, save ourselves, and everything around it.

(A sweatshop where clothes from Shein, Nike, H&M, Zara, Disney, and Victoria's Secret are made. There are more brands but these are some popular ones.)

Being Alone or in Isolation Can Be Beneficial 

The next big topic discussed is the importance of isolation and being alone. Loneliness and isolation can be seen as negative, feared, or wrong. Embracing solitude and being comfortable by yourself is important too. Being alone allows you to self-reflect and grow. Focusing on yourself can help you regain your individuality and to create a stronger self-identity. 

This can be hard to do when working, on social media, where you’re constantly having interactions with others. Living and interacting in a world like ours can be an overload on the senses and has a lot of pressure. It is okay to isolate yourself to recoup if you need some time to yourself (benefits of alone time and how to be alone). William James talks about how hard it is to be present in another person’s life, and how everyone has an inner life that they keep private. We only know so much about a person. Yes, they might share a large portion of their life with us, but I think we can all agree that we have an inner self that belongs to only us. 

The Future of AI and Humanity

I think this last topic is the most controversial and it gets us to truly think about the future. The chapters talk about the possibility of advanced technology controlling humans in the near future. The chapter is titled, “Are We the Cows of the Future”. The title is a metaphor for humans. Cows are domesticated animals that are raised for profit and have little freedom and control. This chapter questions humans' future role in society since we have more advanced technology, surveillance, corporate control, and ecological degradation. It is saying that we may become more controlled because we are more technology driven. This was a good conversation that we had in class. We discussed how AI has been shown as destructive and troubling to human society. In movies like I, Robot, the robots are highly intelligent and one of them may be involved in a murder of a scientist. Advanced AI is also represented in Marvel Movies with J.A.R.V.I.S and Ultron. These two are examples of how AI can turn out to be helpful or damaging to society (Benefits of AI and How AI is will affect humanity).  Some of us think that AI will start to take over our jobs and our lives, others said that AI can be used as assistance in the medical field and school. Recently, I found that there is a hospital ran by AI in China. There are 18 doctors and nurses total. This contradicts what we discussed in class, but it is an interesting read.  Would you let an AI be your doctor or nurse? AI is simply a chatbot that does not have human qualities so it can not take over completely. AI does not have morals and ethics like humans do in order to make careful decisions. AI is mainly used for advice or information on a subject. This TedTalk talks about the future of AI and how it affects our lives and jobs.

(Ways we are using AI in our everyday lives)

Conclusion

Now I am more informed on climate change and I agree with the author’s thoughts on isolation. Reading this section changed my point of view on AI. Before I started this, I did not think that AI will have a big impact on our futures. Mainly because I think of AI as an accessory. I use it for clarifications. Post research, it is advancing more and faster every day due to our coding and time put into making AI better. I hope you learned something new after reading this as well.

Discussion Questions: 

Do you think in the near future we will be more controlled by technology?

Do you have trouble with being alone in a world that encourages social interaction?