Metaman: The Merging of Humans and Machines Into a Global SuperorganismSimon & Schuster, 1993 - 365 páginas In this visionary book, Gregory Stock gives us a new way of understanding our world and our future. He develops the provocative thesis that human society has become an immense living being - a global superorganism in which we humans, knitted together by our modern technology and communication, are like the cells in an animal's body. Drawing on impressive research, Stock shows this newly formed superorganism to be more than metaphor; it is an actual living creature, which he has named "Metaman", meaning "beyond and transcending humans". This name acknowledges humanity's key role in the superorganism but also stresses that Metaman is more than humanity alone. Our increasing reliance on new technologies has joined us inextricably to our technology, while at the same time it has bound humanity together. The examples are all around us: our medical equipment and drugs, high-yield crop strains, superhighways, power and telecommunications networks. All these are part of Metaman. The implications of the new global culture and economy, the evolution of machine intelligence, and the advent of genetic engineering are vast. Through Metaman, life on earth is entering a new phase in its evolution, says Stock. Understanding Metaman tells us that the environmental problems of today are not carrying humanity toward destruction; that war between major powers is unlikely ever to occur again; that technology is not in conflict with the "natural" realm but is an extension of it; and that the very nature of human existence is being redefined, to our benefit. Metaman offers a profoundly hopeful vision of humanity's future. Stock doesn't ignore present-day problems but examines them from a completely newperspective, convincingly arguing that these are flee "birth pains" of Metaman. This is one of those rare books that can change the way we look at ourselves. |
Contenido
Preface | 13 |
Planetary Superorganism | 19 |
Crossing the Threshold | 26 |
Derechos de autor | |
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Metaman : the Merging of Humans and Machines Into a Global Superorganism Gregory Stock Vista de fragmentos - 1993 |
Términos y frases comunes
activity advance already American animals become beginning biological birth body brain called cause cells century challenges chapter climate communications Company complex consider continue cost countries create culture death decades developed devices direct discussion diverse drugs early Earth economic effects efforts electronic energy engineering environment estimated eventually evolution evolving example existing experience extinction forces fuels future genes genetic global growing growth human images immense important increase individual influences integrated internal larger less limited living machines major materials Metaman million move natural numbers occur organisms past patterns percent person plants population possible potential present Press problems production programs progress reduce regions regulate require Science Scientific social society species superorganism thousand tion today's understand United various warming Washington York
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Let Them Eat Data: How Computers Affect Education, Cultural Diversity, and ... C. A. Bowers Sin vista previa disponible - 2000 |
Holistic Darwinism: Synergy, Cybernetics, and the Bioeconomics of Evolution Peter Corning Vista previa limitada - 2010 |