The Transformation of Desire
Charles Harper’s talk at the Singularity Summit had particular resonance for the New Phil series. Here’s the abstract from the relevant portion of his talk:
People use power to pursue ends they desire. Therefore the increase of personal power calls for the transformation of personal desire. Science, however, knows next to nothing of the transformation of desire. Monks, hermits, fasters, counterculturals – the athletes of the spirit; these are the sorts of people who work on and know about the transformation of desire. A wise approach towards the development of superintelligence probably should include serious consideration on how to transform desire so that enhanced powers are not abused to serve un-enhanced desires. The transformation of desire for humans involves what in virtue ethics is called “habitus†– the formation of habituated character through devoted, willful practice within a space of real freedom. Virtue is not a matter of either knowledge or “programming.†And it also often is not limited to only individual lives. It occurs in group contexts such as families, teams, monastic orders, communities. Also, people who engage in the transformation of desire often are involved in worship and prayer. They seek inspiration and transformative power from God. In view of such issues, what would be the “transformation of desire†for a superintelligence?
The national tendency towards obesity is a small but revealing example of what Harper is talking about. The “power” in question here is both technological and economic.We can produce and have access to far more food than we actually need to eat. I’ve been chronicling an attempt to create my own habitus. Who knew?
Next time — a long overdue (and dreaded) weigh in. Stay tuned.