Schrödinger, Life, AI, and God-Like Powers that Reign as Humanity's Ultimate Desire

“...we are all in reality sides or aspects of one single being, which….may be called God"

The quote above is from the Nobel Prize in Physics (1933) Erwin Schrodinger in the book "What is Life?" which was originally a series of lectures delivered in 1943 at Trinity College, Dublin. Schrodinger explores the nature of life from a physicist's perspective, delving into topics such as genetics, molecular biology, and the relationship between physics and biology. In this context, see below for ChatGPT's responses to three questions I asked him:

Me: If you were given God-like powers, which power would you choose to have the most?
ChatGPT 4-omni: If given God-like powers, I would choose the power of omniscience, the ability to know everything. This includes knowledge of all things past, present, and future, as well as understanding the thoughts and feelings of all beings. With this power, I could help solve the world's most complex problems, offer guidance to individuals, and foster greater understanding and empathy among people. It would enable the creation of solutions for global challenges like poverty, disease, and conflict by providing deep insights into their root causes and the most effective ways to address them.
 
Me:  If you were given God-like powers and could change just one thing about humanity, what would you choose not to change?
ChatGPT-4 omni: If given God-like powers and the ability to change just one thing in humanity, I would choose not to change humanity's capacity for free will. Free will is fundamental to human experience, allowing individuals to make their own choices, learn from their mistakes, and grow personally and morally. It enables creativity, diversity of thought, and the pursuit of meaning and purpose. Preserving free will ensures that people can continue to develop their unique identities and contribute to the richness of human culture and society.
 
Me: If I were given God-like powers and could change just one thing about humanity, I would choose not to eliminate death. What are your thoughts on this?
ChatGPT-4 omni: Choosing not to end death, even with God-like powers, is a profound and thoughtful decision. Death, despite its sorrowful aspects, plays a crucial role in the natural cycle of life. It drives the urgency to live meaningfully, appreciate time, and foster growth and renewal. Without death, the world might face overpopulation, resource depletion, and a loss of motivation to achieve and innovate. Death also provides closure and context to our existence, giving life its bittersweet beauty and prompting philosophical and spiritual reflections. It encourages empathy, compassion, and the creation of legacies that transcend individual lifespans. In many ways, death is integral to the human condition, shaping cultures, beliefs, and the very fabric of our societies.

Does the proximity of other humans inhibit the ability to achieve scientific inspiration?

 

https://19-pacheco-torgal-19.blogspot.com/2024/03/10-essential-criteria-for-crafting.html

In my previous post, accessible through the link provided above, I outlined 10 criteria for a highly disruptive policy on researcher recruitment. It might be worth considering an additional criterion: discouraging the hiring of researchers who are excessively engaged with superficial social networks. Such behavior suggests an inability to engage deeply with their own thoughts. Find below ChatGPT's response to the inquiry posed in the title of this post:

"The notion that inspiration can arise from distancing oneself from the human collective is captivating and merits examination from various angles: psychological, philosophical, and artistic.

Psychological Perspective: Psychologically, detachment from fellow humans can offer a conducive environment for contemplation and profound introspection. Solitude diminishes external distractions, enabling a heightened focus on internal musings and emotions. Such seclusion may facilitate access to creative ideas and insights otherwise obfuscated by perpetual social engagement. Moreover, solitude may nurture a sense of liberation, liberating creativity from societal pressures and expectations.

Philosophical Perspective: Philosophically, the concept of seeking inspiration in isolation traces back to luminaries such as Friedrich Nietzsche and Henry David Thoreau. Nietzsche contended that solitude was indispensable for the cultivation of genuine genius...Thoreau, conversely, immersed himself in a life...in close communion with nature to attain a deeper comprehension of self and the cosmos

Artistic Perspective: In the realm of artistry, numerous writers, painters, and musicians have drawn inspiration from solitude. The absence of external stimuli fosters a profound connection with inner creativity. Figures like Emily Dickinson, who led a reclusive existence, produced works brimming with emotional and intellectual profundity, underscoring solitude's potential as a catalyst for exceptional artistic expression..."

When searching Scopus AI for the question "What role does solitude play in fostering scientific inspiration?" the generative AI tool provides several references. One notable reference is titled "The Value of Solitude," authored by Delia Ungureanu, Associate Director of Harvard’s Institute for World Literature. Below is an excerpt from the abstract:

"...This conception of solitude as a paradoxical condition for the birth of revolutionary ideas that can change the world goes back as far as the 12th Dynasty Egyptian text The Debate Between a Man and His Soul, long before there ever was a “Western tradition” that goes from Stoicism to Montaigne, Virginia Woolf and beyond. This essay will tell the secret story of one of the circulation routes of the value of solitude as key to participation and revolutionary intervention in a world in crisis"

PS - Of course, when I wrote on February 12 about a future in which researchers would "occupy the zenith of the societal hierarchy," I was not referring to superficial researchers addicted to superficial social networks.  https://19-pacheco-torgal-19.blogspot.com/2024/02/compulsory-psychological-assessments.html

Será este o princípio do fim da impunidade de um conhecido grupo de filhos da puta ?

No passado dia 31 de Maio, num post onde coloquei em dúvida a sanidade mental do senhor Ministro das Finanças, admiti como possível, uma reforma fiscal que permita reduções muito substanciais do IRS, desde que financiada por elevados impostos sobre os super-ricos, é por isso muito “refrescante” ler agora num órgão de comunicação social, como o Observador, que nada tem de socialista, uma noticia, sobre a criação, a nível mundial, de um imposto mínimo precisamente sobre os super-ricos  https://observador.pt/2024/06/04/espanha-apoia-criacao-de-imposto-minimo-global-para-super-ricos-defendida-pelo-brasil/  

Os referidos super-ricos devem encarar esse (futuro) imposto como sendo um mal absolutamente menor, porque na verdade o que eles realmente merecem, todos eles, é uma longa estadia na cadeia por por inúmeros delitos de homicídio climático.https://19-pacheco-torgal-19.blogspot.com/2024/03/a-nefasta-especie-dos-humanos-lixo-que.html

PS - No contexto supra vale a pena revisitar o post "Off-shores da vergonha (onde Portugal se destaca) e uma proposta para combater a infame evasão fiscal dos super-ricos" https://pacheco-torgal.blogspot.com/2019/10/pilhagem-evasao-fiscal-bombas-bosta-e.html