Re: <nettime> Social robotics, cognitive bomb

@Max Herman
I do not have in mind any particular reference related the link between meditation practice and social signal theory. It can be assumed that if meditation has spread quite widely, it is because it has been selected as an adapted behaviour capable of providing an evolutionary advantage, at least to those who practice it. We can also suspect that this is in line with the transformation of our social profile I was talking about. But I have no argument to say so. However, I wonder if the non-production and non-consumption of signals is not an ideal beyond reach, if in reality we can neither not-transmit nor not-receive.

@John Hopkins
Indeed, I suppose everyone accepts the general idea that the structure and functioning of society is closely linked to the availability of usable energy sources. However, in social signal theory, there is a cost aspect (we also speak of the "costly signal theory") that is not linearly related to the absolute energy consumption measurable in Watts hours or Joules. Cost is obviously a quantity related to the quality of social ties. To go further, extensive researches should be conducted to link the shape of our social profile and our overall energy consumption. My hypothesis that remains to be demonstrated is that a Z-shaped curve would be much more beneficial to the survival of our species than our current S-shaped curve.

Olivier

On Tue, Oct 15, 2019 at 5:25 AM John Hopkins <jhopkins@neoscenes.net> wrote:

Olivier --

For a model of what our down-side-of-the-Hubbert-curve global situation might
look like, and practices that might well be embraced for this inevitable
de-industrialization process that cannot be stopped by any technological
implementations, only slightly slowed through radical human behavior shifts:

Greer, John Michael. The Long Descent: A User’s Guide to the End of the
Industrial Age. Gabriola Island, B.C.: New Society Publishers, 2008.

If anyone would like a pdf, ping me off list...

It, as you can see, was published in 2008, but the premise, the draining of the
very finite reserves of hydrocarbons, globally, and social trajectories that it
imposes are the same as now, except we are a bit further along on the way down.
The arrival of intensive fracking for natural gas only slowed the drain
slightly, and as fracked gas resources are depleted on average far faster than
conventional wells, this slow-down of the demise will be short-lived... It will
be the lack of available energy that will more-or-less slowly constrict our
lives from the present of excess to lives of far less in every way. Greer argues
against the apocalyptic collapse that is envisioned; but also against any
technological 'silver bullet' that might, against all thermodynamic laws,
generate infinite energy for all to consume at will. It's a good read for
understanding where/how things will likely happen (and are already happening) --
especially in terms of your transforming 'social profile' idea. Because the
structure and operation of the social is deeply intertwined with the
availability of usable energy sources...

JH

On 14/Oct/19 05:47, olivier auber wrote:
> Thanks César
>
> As you have understood, I am speaking from a perspective borrowed from the
> cognitive sciences, particularly the social signal theory. Other aspects
> are also developed in my book.
>
> - Executives who fly for a yes or no, do so to send social signals.
> - People locked in their homes and stuck on social networks do it to send
> social signals.
> - Eating beef is a social signal.
> - Have children too!
>
> My hypothesis is that the social profile of our species is likely to
> change. We will certainly not stop sending social signals, otherwise we
> would turn into stones. It is the shape of the profile that could evolve.
> It could move from the S-shaped comprising two non-competitive classes C1
> and C3 and a single competitive class C2, to a z-shaped where C1 and C3
> would become competitive while C2 would become less so.
>
> In my book I put forward some arguments that suggest that this
> transformation is underway and why we should encourage it.
>
> The consequences are enormous, including in terms of energy and the
> environment, because signal production is extremely energy-consuming.

--
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dr. John Hopkins, BSc, MFA, PhD
hanging on to the Laramide Orogeny
http://tech-no-mad.net/blog/
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

# distributed via <nettime>: no commercial use without permission
# <nettime> is a moderated mailing list for net criticism,
# collaborative text filtering and cultural politics of the nets
# more info: http://mx.kein.org/mailman/listinfo/nettime-l
# archive: http://www.nettime.org contact: nettime@kein.org
# @nettime_bot tweets mail w/ sender unless #ANON is in Subject: