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The 'Crisis of Noosphere' as a Limiting Factor to Achieve the Point of Technological Singularity

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  • Rafael Lahoz-Beltra

    (Complutense University of Madrid, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Madrid, Spain)

Abstract

One of the most significant developments in the history of human being is the invention of a way of keeping records of human knowledge, thoughts and ideas. In 1926, the work of several thinkers such as Edouard Le Roy, Vladimir Vernadsky and Teilhard de Chardin led to the concept of noosphere, the idea that human cognition and knowledge transforms the biosphere into something like a thinking layer of the planet. At present, it is commonly accepted by some thinkers that the Internet is the medium that will give life to noosphere. According to Vinge and Kurzweil's technological singularity hypothesis, noosphere would in a future be the natural environment in which a 'human machine superintelligence' would emerge to reach the point of technological singularity. In this article we show by means of numerical models that it is impossible for our civilization to reach the point of technological singularity in a near future. We propose that this point could be reached only if Internet data centers were based on "computer machines" that are more effective in terms of hardware and power consumption than the current ones. Finally, we speculate about 'Nooscomputers' or N computers, as hypothetical machines oriented not only to the management of information, but also knowledge, and much more efficient in terms of electricity consumption than current computers. Possibly a civilization based on N-computers would allow us to successfully reach the point of technological singularity.

Suggested Citation

  • Rafael Lahoz-Beltra, 2018. "The 'Crisis of Noosphere' as a Limiting Factor to Achieve the Point of Technological Singularity," Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems - scientific journal, Croatian Interdisciplinary Society Provider Homepage: http://indecs.eu, vol. 16(1), pages 92-109.
  • Handle: RePEc:zna:indecs:v:16:y:2018:i:1:p:92-109
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Timothy Garrett, 2011. "Are there basic physical constraints on future anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide?," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 104(3), pages 437-455, February.
    2. David H. Good & Rafael Reuveny, 2009. "On the Collapse of Historical Civilizations," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 91(4), pages 863-879.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    noosphere; technological singularity; omega point; energy consumption; Malthusian growth model; S-curve; N-computer;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O10 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General
    • Q55 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Technological Innovation

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