BY CHUMA IKENZE
I recently watched a TEDRCEIB video describing some interesting developments in establishing connection between thoughts generated by the brain and specially developed chips called brain chips. The video described the success of using chips inserted in the brain of a monkey to bypass the severed section of the monkey’s spinal cord to establish a wireless connection with chips inserted lower down its spinal cord. Through this mechanically established pathway, thoughts generated by the monkey were transmitted to stimulate the muscles in its hind legs into activity. Thus the once paralyzed monkey was able to walk again.
The video also reported that the same technology has been used to connect the brains of two rats into which chips had been inserted, and through this, information, especially learned skills, was transferred between rats. The same technology has also been used to demonstrate brain wave connectivity between brain chips and purely mechanical devices with similar chips. Through this, the animal was able to interact with and control a nearby mechanical device with its thoughts.
The presenter was of course quick to suggest many potential benefits of using this brain/chip-to-chip wireless connectivity to solve many medical challenges, like paralysis, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions. He also pointed out that the use of this technology, in combination with internet connectivity, to share experiences among humans could hold the potential for increased understanding between humans, and thus greater possibility of solving social problems.
No doubt, these are amazing advances in the field of neuroscience, with much more to come, as indicated in the video.
But, when dispassionately considered, all of this is simply an effort to mechanize that, which already exists, and is popularly known as Extrasensory Perception and Communication, although this, in its natural occurrence, is only between living creatures. Another thing that is evident is that nature has, in its wisdom, endowed only a few people with this capacity, which even science has validated among those truly thus endowed.
Furthermore, it is clearly manifest that the activities of nature are so logical as to suggest that an unseen but evident wisdom must govern its processes. Going by this, it is not illogical to assume that there must be a minimum sense of responsibility and maturity involved with being endowed with this capacity by nature. That being the case, one can only wonder what will happen when this ability is mechanized and people who do not have the maturity to use it properly have access to it, as will be the case with the widespread implementation of this new scientific development.
“Clearly, mankind has not demonstrated the ethical maturity to properly handle and apply the potent gifts of nature. Therefore, it is not unfair to say that this new development is yet another major disaster waiting to happen”
As is usually the case, the Sales Pitch in the video, proclaims all the great benefits of this new technology, but ignores the potential for its unethical use, although evidence abounds of the numerous abuses of the use of technology. Besides, evidence from past scientific successes show that the number of people who will have access to this new panacea will be small compared to the many who will be burdened with its consequences. Therefore, one can only shudder to think of this “brave new world” that society may be lured into with these great promises.
This is not to suggest that scientific explorations should not be undertaken. But, its implementation needs to be matched by ethical considerations and maturity. This is the guiding principle by which nature apparently operates, but which mankind evidently overlooks or ignores in our drive to conquer and improve upon nature.
Clearly, mankind has not demonstrated the ethical maturity to properly handle and apply the potent gifts of nature. Therefore, it is not unfair to say that this new development is yet another major disaster waiting to happen, given our current low level of ethical and spiritual maturity. Perhaps a few examples should be mentioned to make the point – the current greenhouse gases and global climate change, the accumulating nuclear waste problem, the debilitating side effects of synthesized pharmaceutical products and the ecological disaster accompanying bioengineered products.
Another fallacy: Sharing someone’s experience does not make it one’s own. We should already know this from our experience of easy access to information in our Internet age. The youth of today are arguably the most interconnected of any generation. They are more aware of each other and things happening around them and globally. Yet, here in the advanced Western societies, they suffer a disproportionately higher degree of alienation, and identity crisis, in spite of the numerous shared experiences available via the Internet and the ubiquitous social media.
This point alone tells me that, more likely than not, this new world will be inhabited by people who, having developed little of their own identity, will be more “drone-like” and therefore more easily manipulated by those who control what experiences are to be shared. We already see this in the globalization and control of mass tastes in many areas of our life, by those who control the media.
True, one could learn from other people’s experience. But, benefit can only be derived when one uses that information in conjunction with one’s own observations and conclusions, drawn from their own life. When we spend more time, as is increasingly the case today, even among adults, in trying to digest and emulate the experiences of those who are held out to us as role models or experts, we delay or ignore the opportunity of developing our own perspective and understanding of life.
For those who believe that man comes to earth for his/her spiritual development, the result would be a wasted opportunity to garner our own experiences, for our spiritual maturity. Therefore, it is important for each person, and especially those who have accepted the responsibility to be leaders of their societies, to carefully examine the promises that such new “breakthroughs” promise.
However, such assessment can only and truly be done when one takes into account the potential consequences of the breakthrough, the ethical considerations involved and how that development will facilitate or hinder spiritual
maturity.
Ikenze wrote from California, USA.
CAVEAT: Views and opinions expressed here are those of the writers and are not in any way those of The Point Newspaper – Editor
