How should humanity steer the future?

Description

The fourteen award-winning essays in this volume discuss a range of novel ideas and controversial topics that could decisively influence the course of human life on Earth. Their authors address, in accessible language, issues as diverse as: enabling our social systems to learn; research in biological engineering and artificial intelligence; mending and enhancing minds; improving the way we do, and teach, science; living in the here and now; and the value of play. The essays are enhanced versions of the prize-winning entries submitted to the Foundational Questions Institute (FQXi) essay competition in 2014. FQXi, catalyzes, supports, and disseminates research on questions at the foundations of physics and cosmology, particularly new frontiers and innovative ideas integral to a deep understanding of reality, but unlikely to be supported by conventional funding sources.;Preface; Contents; 1 Introduction; References; 2 How to Save the World; 2.1 The Problem; 2.2 The Solution; 2.3 Science Matters; 2.4 A Five Step Plan; 2.5 Summary; References; 3 Humanity Is Much More than the Sum of Humans; 3.1 Introduction; 3.2 Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881 -- 1955); 3.3 Wolfram, Chaitin, Tononi; 3.4 A Foggy Digital Future; 3.5 Humanity In Silico; References; 4 Crucial Phenomena; 4.1 Introduction; 4.2 Aim for a Large Future; 4.3 Crucial Phenomena; 4.4 Steering the Future; References; 5 The Leverage and Centrality of Mind; 5.1 Background; 5.2 Immature Science. Preface Contents 1 Introduction References 2 How to Save the World 2.1 The Problem 2.2 The Solution 2.3 Science Matters 2.4 A Five Step Plan 2.5 Summary References 3 Humanity Is Much More than the Sum of Humans 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881 -- 1955) 3.3 Wolfram, Chaitin, Tononi 3.4 A Foggy Digital Future 3.5 Humanity In Silico References 4 Crucial Phenomena 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Aim for a Large Future 4.3 Crucial Phenomena 4.4 Steering the Future References 5 The Leverage and Centrality of Mind 5.1 Background 5.2 Immature Science. 5.3 A Mind Lost in Time 5.4 A Fundamental and General Solution 5.4.1 The Path to the New Mind 5.5 Comment And Summary References 6 A Participatory Future of Humanity 6.1 The Human Condition 6.2 Trans2humanism: Why Technology Just Isn't Enough 6.3 QBism and the Participatory Universe 6.4 Time, Selves, and Humanity 6.5 Out with the Amygdala! References 7 The Cartography of the Future: Recovering Utopia for the 21st Century References 8 Enlightenment Is Not for the Buddha Alone 8.1 Time and the Inanimate World 8.2 Time, Living Beings, and the Human Mind. 8.3 The Timeless Consciousness 8.4 Towards a Conscious Humanity 8.5 Why Is It so Difficult to Make This Work? 8.6 Concluding Remarks 9 Back to the Future: Crowdsourcing Innovation by Refocusing Science Education 9.1 Science and Science Education 9.2 Ptolemy and Copernicus 9.3 Dalton and Avogadro 9.4 Past, Present, and Future References 10 Recognizing the Value of Play 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Playful Learning Landmarks 10.3 Child-Like, Adolescent, and Adult Play 10.4 Teaching Lifelong Learning 10.5 Concluding Remarks 10.6 Reflections and Observations References. 11 Improving Science for a Better Future 11.1 Introduction 11.2 Can We Predict the Future? 11.3 Choosing the Path to the Future 11.3.1 Transcending Traditional Disciplines 11.3.2 Creating New Specializations 11.3.3 Big Science Versus Small Science 11.3.4 The Relation Between Science and Technology 11.3.5 University Labs Versus Industrial Labs 11.3.6 Improving the Publishing Process 11.3.7 Publishing Negative Results 11.3.8 Reproducing Research Findings 11.3.9 Managing Research Literature 11.3.10 Encouraging Multiple Research Approaches. 11.3.11 Encouraging Innovation in Global Problems 11.3.12 Funding Research and Development 11.3.13 The Role of Scientists in Global Decisions 11.3.14 Raising the Public Understanding of Science 11.3.15 Improving Education 11.3.16 Empowering All Humanity to Participate 11.4 Conclusions References 12 How to Avoid Steering Blindly: The Case for a Robust Repository of Human Knowledge 12.1 Introduction 12.2 Benefits of the Repository on Different Time Scales 12.2.1 Near Future 12.2.2 Intermediate Future 12.2.3 Far Future 12.3 Fundamental Requirements 12.3.1 Semi-autonomy.