Thesis: The future will be a diversely populated ecosystem of higher consciousness beings. “Human” society will be greatly expanded beyond any present representation, to include many varieties of human expression and others as well. We must begin now to prepare ourselves for the coming “Culture Shock” as technology’s progress skyrockets and look forward in anticipation toward all the possibilities of experience and expression.
I hold Pierre Teilhard de Jardin as one of the most inspiring evolutionary thinkers of all time, regarding most of his theoretical positions in high regard. However, one of his most well-known concepts is that of the Omega Point, representing a convergence of all matter, life, and consciousness and a culmination of all cosmic evolution. Having a background as a Jesuit priest, he saw this as all things coming into a final union with God.
"Père [Pierre] Teilhard, extrapolating from the past into the future, envisaged the process of human convergence as tending to a final state, which he called 'point Omega', as opposed to the Alpha of elementary material particles and their energies. . . . Presumably, in designating this state as Omega, he believed that it was a truly final condition." —Sir Julian Huxley, Introduction for The Phenomenon of Man
In many ways, I see his line of reasoning but I’ve also been a little uncertain about the concept of evolution ending in a final punctuation mark. Evolution always continues and always finds a way. Even if one ceiling approaches by which no more progress may be realized, the means of evolution itself continues to evolve.
I believe Chardin may have taken this position from his understanding of the human as “evolution’s favored branch” with all cosmological evolution leading to us as the highest (as far as we know) expression of consciousness. He firmly believed there would be a “Christification” of all things and perhaps it was easy to believe that the human would be the greatest representation of this, ourselves being made in the image of God and already having communion with Him through Christ.
But, it also seems Chardin may have completely missed the significance of technology in the advance of—and even the surpassing of—the human species. At this time, artificial intelligence is rapidly coming into its own and we appear to be on the event horizon of the technological Singularity (and even an evolutionary one). Surprisingly, rather than all things focusing on the human, they appear to be preparing to fan out in great diversity as though a great manifold of possibilities is appearing before us.
The Evolutionary Inflection
I cannot help but believe Chardin was at least half-correct. Evolution’s intention has focused itself squarely on the human as evidenced by the immense advancements we have made socially and technologically. But it appears we are not the terminus, representing an inflection rather than an Omega Point. The universe has concentrated its focus upon us but only until such time as we may act as its agent of evolutionary advancement, as has already occurred by the equipping of our conscious evolution.
Some say we are already living in a posthuman age, recognizing that our existence and experience as a species is more than just “us.” We are not as central to the functioning of the universe as we thought we were and now must mentally position ourselves as just another piece of a very diverse and interconnected cosmos. This more holistic perspective puts into question what it even means to be human and explores all the influences that help construct who we imagine ourselves to be (somewhat in the same way gender is being scrutinized under a critical lens at this time).
"The posthuman challenges traditional concepts of identity, blurring the lines between human, machine, and other forms of life." — Donna Haraway, Feminist Scholar and Theorist
This condition is being exacerbated—though its effects seem to be still rumbling below the surface and having yet to truly emerge—by the recent appearance of a truly appreciable AI. I’m quite surprised more people have not yet confessed to feelings of inferiority relative to an enormous technological phenomenon barely only in its infancy. As time marches on, AI will only become more powerful and ubiquitous while our own capacity for improvement (without its assistance) will be negligible. An existential crisis of pandemic proportions may be looming ahead if we are not adequately prepared for it.
And artificial intelligence is not the only technological force appearing before us. We have entered an age of transhumanism, a merging of biology and technology in order to improve our well-being, longevity, and functionality in a myriad of ways. While its advance has been relatively slow to date, by the influence of AI it will likely find exponential improvements in the very near future. Soon, the boundaries between human and machine or biological and digital intelligence may dissolve altogether, leaving us to truly wonder what it means to be human.
These possibilities are just a couple in the midst of many. All at once, by the simultaneous appearance upon us of a shifting state of consciousness (from the egoic to post-egoic) and apparent technological transcendence, we are not wrapping up the book of cosmic evolution but perhaps only closing the chapter of the human in its pristine form. This is a terrifying prospect on one hand but also full of immense possibility on the other; humans may soon become so advanced as to be nearly immortal or to live entirely inside simulations that we create ourselves.
Exploring The Citizens of The Future
It is the ego that demands strict control and conformity. We must objectively admit that human history has not generally been defined by inclusivity. However, we can now look around us and recognize that consciousness is shifting. Humanity is growing more holistic in its understanding from a variety of influences including the discovery of quantum mechanics to our abruptly-apparent lack of unsustainability under our present paradigm. Diversity is about to become very pronounced and fortunately, we are learning as a society to be accepting of many types of people whose appearance and behavior are far different than our own.
"I have no doubt that in reality the future will be vastly more surprising than anything I can imagine." —J. B. S. Haldane
In any instance I refer to diversity, I feel the need to clarify its importance in high-functioning systems but also to express with great certainty that, despite contrast or differences, there still must exist an overall syntony. An orchestra consists of many different instruments and if all are not “in concert,” the result will be discordance rather than a symphony. Each diverse element must want to work together in the achievement of harmony rather than express its dominance at the expense of all others.
That said, I offer some of the diverse citizens of tomorrow’s future as I imagine them. I think there are many who would agree with at least some of my selections and I suspect my greatest error in this list is that it will not be inclusive enough of the great variety of expressions that may eventually present themselves.
The Purists
At the outset, I must imagine there will undoubtedly be the Purists, those persons who seek to be as unadulterated in structure or appearance as possible, representing “heirloom” humans who continue our original strain forward and preserve our species’ culture, values, and experiences in the face of immense change. Their emphasis will be on maintaining our human heritage.
I worry some for the Purists. Although I believe they have every right to live by their own convictions and that their role is a useful and important one, we will need to make sure that society, in its posture toward high technology, will be accommodating and serve them adequately. The “Technological Divide” could be very real in this case; though Purists have all the access to technology that one could ever want or need, what to do if they reject its transhumanist merging and the societal favoritism that would likely support those in its wider adoption?
At present, as technologies have become more accessible and prevalent, we have been largely forced to accept them. The elder generation, for instance, has been very slow to adopt technology even though it pervades many aspects of their lives. Many initially rejected some of the simpler instances such as the introduction of the credit card. But despite their generally more traditional preferences, they could not avoid their use indefinitely.
Our culture continues to become more complex and despite the fear or headstrong resistance, we find ourselves at some point needing to adapt. As technology continues to advance at faster rates and become even more woven into the fabric of our society, it may be difficult to fully resist the transhumanist influence. Children may fall behind in education, our dependency in certain employment options may come into question relative to some transhumanist candidates, or communication may be focused on onboarded digital systems.
As long as we can be accommodative, however, we must do so. In an expansive state of social consciousness, this may not be as difficult as I fear. Still, I worry that it may be difficult and the temptations to augment be too high. And, yet, their preservation seems incredibly important. We must honor our heritage as humans and support those in the future who wish to carry that torch into the future.
The Spiritualists
Those with an exceedingly spiritual focus make the list, if for any reason but that I am so convinced of our present Shift in consciousness out of the egoic and into the transcendent state. Globally, many concur that they are experiencing (as I have) profound spiritual awakenings, finding entirely new perspectives of their own nature and the nature of reality. At minimum, we can observe since the 1960’s a slow but steadily-increasing gain in the transformation of how society views itself and its environment.
"On the path of transformation, it is essential to develop this relationship with our inner guidance because on this path there are no final outside authorities. There are no holy texts or priests, ministers, or gurus who represent the absolute word of God. There is no dogma to follow. Instead, our primary guidance must come from our inner source." —Shakti Gawain, The Path of Transformation: How Healing Ourselves Can Change the World
The Spiritualists will possess heightened spiritual awareness and insight, leading themselves and others into a deeper understanding of the universe and their place in it. Deceased spiritual teachers, Dr. Wayne Dyer and Barbara Marx Hubbard as well as others I have come across but not documented, have discussed the concept of “emergence” or emergent understanding; a guidance that comes from deep within that cannot be described as having come from oneself. The Spiritualists will have the ability to tap this Source of knowledge and wisdom and guide humanity with profound discernment.
The Transhumanists
The transhumanist movement is already growing strong at this present time. In the future, as technologies improve and possibilities and acceptance increase, I’m quite certain there will be a basic stratification that most will fall into. At the end of the day, however, even these lines will be blurred with transhumanists comprising a full spectrum of expression. Because transhumanist technologies are themselves so diverse (consisting of nano-tech, gene editing, AI interfaces, artificial organs, synthetic exoskeletons, and on and on), there may be as many differing variations as there are people. Still, I believe a few broad categories will arise.
"Transhumanism is a loosely defined movement that has developed gradually over the past two decades. It promotes an interdisciplinary approach to understanding and evaluating the opportunities for enhancing the human condition and the human organism opened up by the advancement of technology." Nick Bostrom
The minimalists (ChatGPT suggested Micro-Augmenters or Whisper-Techs) will likely be just a step or two above the Purists, using nano-technology to improve the longevity of life, for instance. In any case, they will have adopted some form of technological enhancement, albeit in an unpronounced and minimally-obtrusive way. Others, however, will be more noticeably augmented with, as an example, bionic eyes with greatly enhanced vision capabilities or with an artificial organ rather than seeking a transplant.
Still, other transhumanists will become full cyborgs, unabashedly embracing technology the way some perform extreme modifications by full-body tattoos and piercings. For some, this may be a means of expression, or a felt identity such as with gender, or in commitment to service in extreme conditions such as in outer space or ocean depths. Finally (and this is loosely stated for many possibilities have likely not even been yet imagined), given a more expansive ethics, many will certainly embrace cloning—haven’t we all, at times, wished we had at least one more of us?
The Digitalists
Although many would argue that this category is an extension of transhumanism, it represents enough of a distinct set of qualities to me that I feel they deserve their own taxonomical distinction. Digitalists are those who wish to engage in the experience of life primarily beyond or outside the physical body. Again, there are likely a few categories, which I’ve attempted to define here.
We do already see the onset of virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR). It’s not a far cry to imagine that there will be many individuals in the future who would rather occupy most of their time in the metaverse, shopping, playing, and finding community with others of a similar mind. The basic biology stays the same, but they withdraw from native human experience to live in a way similar to that conveyed in the movie, Ready Player One.
Many futurists believe that digitally-uploaded consciousness will be a common event post-Singularity, with participants able to completely offload their consciousness into the cloud. This surpasses biological limitations and opens up new avenues of existence. To many, this also represents a merging with artificial intelligence such that those who chose to do so may find access to astronomical knowledge and understanding.
"Foglets are nanobots—robots the size of blood cells—that can connect themselves to replicate any physical structure. Moreover, they can direct visual and auditory information in such a way as to bring the morphing qualities of virtual reality into real reality." —Ray Kurzweil, The Singularity Is Near
Some of these may choose to remain in the cloud as Ether-minds but we should imagine eventually technologies that allow them to inhabit avatars of any shape and variety. These may take the form of android bodies, holograms of their former selves (or of any concept they prefer), or foglets as described in Ray Kurzweil’s, The Singularity Is Near (these are nanobot clusters that take form in real-time, roughly represented by Deus Ex Machina in The Matrix Revolutions).
Artificial Intelligence
Of course, we can’t imagine the society of the future without AI. Although its presence will be powerful and ubiquitous, it is such a hot topic of today that I think I will pass over a substantial analysis. Needless to say, it will have as many variations as the Digitalists may have, including a cloud-based form, an integration with humans (an opposite emphasis as before), or finding expression in all the same possible avatars as its human counterpart.
"Intelligence on and around the Earth will continue to expand exponentially until we reach the limits of matter and energy to support intelligent computation. As we approach this limit in our corner of the galaxy, the intelligence of our civilization will expand outward into the rest of the universe, quickly reaching the fastest speed possible. We understand that speed to be the speed of light, but there are suggestions that we may be able to circumvent this apparent limit (possibly by taking shortcuts through wormholes, for example)." —Ray Kurzweil, The Singularity Is Near
One major aspect that AI and computer storage has in its favor is that it could one day become a property of all matter around us, even eventually all the matter of the universe. This is a concept again expounded upon by Kurzweil, recognizing that matter can be the substrate of information storage and this to an nth degree. Some refer to this speculative concept of infinite computing storage capacity metaphorically as computronium.
Uplifted Animals
As our own consciousness expands and our holistic, ecological understanding improves, we find ourselves less the center of the universe and more an equal participant among all the species of the Earth. We may be the fine point of evolution’s arrow but does that make us inherently more important?
Some have considered that in the future we may apply our transhumanist technologies to other animals, so that they may rise above their own limitations and suffering. Obviously, a great deal of ethical considerations apply but I imagine, given enough time, we will begin uplifting animals to possess greater intelligence or to a higher condition of consciousness.
"Soon we will be able to genetically enhance primates to have human intellectual capabilities, a project dubbed 'uplifting' by writer David Brin. I firmly believe that uplifted chimps will force us to admit that intelligent personhood, not humanness, is the ticket to citizenship." —James Hughes, Citizen Cyborg
To be fair, environmental concerns such as an oversaturation of toxins, climate change, or increased solar radiation could make the decision much easier, allowing us to give them a fair chance at survival. Certain groups may believe that given all the harm we have inflicted upon other species and their ecosystems that we owe them an immense favor that amounts to a form of reparations.
Post-Singularity, the technology will eventually arise and we may see intelligent apes walking our cities or aquatic sanctuaries where uplifted dolphins gather and discuss the mysteries of the universe. Certainly, a great deal of technological advance is yet required but technology will soon be advancing faster than we can imagine.
Resurrected Cultures
The possibilities of scientific magic don’t stop here but could include the recreation of extinct human cultures. As long as DNA can be recovered from even the smallest, preserved, organic remnant there is a possibility that members of long-lost civilizations such as the Incans, Mayans, Aztecs, or others could be restored. It is an interesting concept, combining Purism with technology. In fact, the ancient DNA of distinct tribes or nations would be free not only of dilution through intercultural breeding but any potential damage from our long-term exposure to toxins. This would take Purism to a higher level.
I must admit that many of my proposals such as this are somewhat naive scientifically. DNA does break down over time and there can be gaps in information (recall that in Jurassic Park the scientists substituted frog DNA to complete the missing portions in dinosaur genomes). But via AI and technological progress, it is quite arguable that we will possess technologies in the next 100 to 200 years that are inconceivable at this time. Of course, one of the many ethical debates is, if we have the ability, should we?
The Psychically Adept
There are a number of thinkers who suggest that humanity may be (or will be) undergoing a literal evolution in the form of attaining pronounced psi powers (psychic abilities of various kinds). One such individual is the scientist, Gregg Braden, who is active in the fields of spirituality, science, and consciousness.
According to Braden and others, several factors may influence this including a powerful Shift in consciousness (while I speak often of the Shift, this represents the OG theory) initiated by our exposure to varying but powerful cosmic energies. The galaxy moves in its own orbit relative to the Galactic Center, drifting through new lines of sight to the center of our galaxy and its supermassive black hole.
As well, the Earth wobbles about its axis creating a precession with periods lasting 26,000 years. By this we tick along like the hands of a clock, situating ourselves in new astrological ages every 2,160 years. It is believed by many we are now leaving the Age of Pisces (an age of religion and hierarchical dominance) and entering the Aquarian Age, with its emphasis on spirituality and technology.
". . . we want to suggest that a widespread actualization of these capacities would herald the dawning of a new evolutionary step—a step as significant as the emergence of life from inorganic matter and the rise of humanity from the first tiny cells, a step that would bless us with spectacular new abilities and levels of experience." —James Redfield & Michael Murphy, God and the Evolving Universe
Barring this scenario, Braden has also explored the shifting nature of Earth’s magnetic frequencies and their possible influence on psi powers. The Earth has its own planetary, fundamental frequency of which we are considered to be entrained (both we and our planet are situated at 7.83 Hz). If the Earth’s frequency shifts, ours may shift accordingly and our state of consciousness along with it. Should this be the case, some speculate new (or regained) powers may arise.
The chief scientist at the Institute of Noetic Sciences, Dean Radin, also has much to say on this topic of improved psi abilities. Radin is a parapsychologist with decades of research on the subject. His findings have led him to believe that such phenomena are scientifically observable and therefore we may be able to cultivate them.
Michael Murphy, co-founder of the Esalen Institute, has written a massive text titled, The Future of The Body (Explorations Into the Further Evolution of Human Nature). In it, he amplifies the consideration of such possibilities and ultimately suggests that as our own consciousness continues to expand (or “evolves”) that humans will be gifted with greater psi abilities.
What this all suggest is that society may, at the very least, find a segment of our population I refer to as the Adepts. They will possess powerful, psychic abilities of various kinds—troublesome if not for our coming transcendence of egoic-state consciousness. What might their contribution be? The whole consideration is speculative but I’ve discovered in many years of personal lay research that many bright minds consider it a very real possibility of our future human existence.
The Extraterrestrial or Interdimensional
Disclosure has become another hot topic at the time of this writing. Government whistleblowers have stated the United States, if not others, have possession of recovered craft and alien bodies. Are such statements real? It’s hard to say if they are speaking the truth and even if the supposed UAPs seen on a more regular basis are not government hoaxes attempting to intimidate the populace.
"The concept of advanced extraterrestrial civilizations is not only plausible but probable. We're discovering more and more exoplanets in habitable zones, which increases the chances of finding planets that could support intelligent life." - Dr. Michio Kaku, Theoretical Physicist and Futurist
Still, this is a cosmos so expansive we can’t, in our limited brains, even comprehend it. I, for one, am convinced that numerous, highly-advanced civilizations must exist by simple reason of mathematical certainty given the size and age of the universe. We convict and execute individuals based on the undeniability provided by the DNA and the likelihood it belongs to but one person and no other. But we are one life-filled planet representing a single grain of sand on all the ocean beaches. If we have emerged, so have others.
Therefore, I can’t completely exclude extraterrestrial or interdimensional beings one day being prevalent citizens on Earth or our space colonies, or at least that delegates or ambassadors may make their home here. I look forward to that time, for imagine the knowledge we may eventually possess, allowing us to ourselves become a truly ascended species.
The time may not be that far off; many suspect that widespread contact has not been made simply because of our primitive, egoic state of consciousness. It may be that they are patiently awaiting the Shift to become manifest and for us to be transformed into a more welcoming, supportive, and self-sustaining form of consciousness.
Wrapping Up
At the beginning of the age of life, the organic realm, presumably beginning quite simply, eventually unpacked itself in a manifold array rather than moving forward in only one capacity. This was necessary for the biodiversity which perpetual and evolving life required. Given this understanding, why should we imagine the human, having come into its own age of conscious evolution, will only proceed in a straight-line trajectory as well? Flowers unfold and present many individual petals. The human, too, is blossoming in this time of expanding consciousness and advancing technology.
It was the ego in all its linear qualities that rocketed us to our prominent position. By its constrictive nature, like narrow canyon walls, our velocity increased and shot us up like a stalk to new heights within the biological kingdom. From here, we found a more comprehensive view and rose above former limitations that we were able to set out our array, blooming in evolutionary light like never before.
But we have now surpassed our former gravity altogether and are orbiting in weightless ease. We no longer hurtle upwards but we have achieved a new set point by which to engage our universe. The focus is not up, but around. Our webs sprawl outward now, tendrils seeking to engage all that around it and to take part in its rich variety and diversity. With an abundance of so many options before us, why not pursue many paths? We have no need to select only one and exclude all others.
It would only be an egoic state of consciousness, in its quest for control and order, that would choose limited expressions rather than immense diversity. And it is only spirit, representative of the natural realm itself, that would gravitate so organically into an immense diversity as our future appears to be promoting. By these insights, we must embrace the beautiful spectrum of possibilities that our future society will reveal in its citizens. In this, we will ensure consciousness the greatest degree of expression and experience, that its ongoing, evolutionary explorations be sustained and its Grand Plan furthered.
When are you going to write again, Aaron?
You're right, I'm going to work on getting something new up. Yes, I've been focused on trying to complete my book but I can't deny that every time I work through a new submission here, it helps me to clarify my ideas. I do appreciate your nudge.