Tag Archives: Utopia

Would You Upload Your Mind to a Virtual Utopia?

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“What does it mean to upload consciousness to intangible space?”

Francesco Carta/Getty

In every version of you, characters grapple with a daunting choice: Upload your consciousness to a digital paradise or succumb to a forsaken physical reality.

Mind uploading, a familiar theme in science fiction, often serves as the backdrop for relationship dilemmas or philosophical inquiries. But what does it really entail to transfer consciousness into formless space? Can we decipher its mechanisms based on current science? And if we could, would we really want to?

At the core of my novel, amid romantic tenderness and innovative technology, is a theoretical and philosophical question: the Ship of Theseus paradox. Plutarch’s version, dating back to the 1st century AD, challenges whether a ship, meticulously replaced part by part, still qualifies as the same vessel. Philosophers have debated this thought experiment for centuries. What if we were to reconstruct the original ship from its components—planks, oars, masts, and sails? Is either constructed ship the authentic Theseus’ ship? This dilemma compels us to differentiate between the material essence of an entity (wood, neural pathways, molecules, etc.) and our perceptions of its completeness and authenticity.

In every version of you, my character Navin opts to upload himself to Gaia, a digital utopia. Navin represents a pivotal moment. At the moment of uploading, his physical and uploaded selves are theoretically identical. However, they begin to diverge thereafter. The virtual Navin would not be the same as the corporeal Navin had he continued to exist.

I had to reverse engineer the concept of uploading to create a plausible narrative. Some tales intentionally obscure the science to highlight themes such as relationships, philosophy, or satire. In certain narratives, characters connect devices to their heads or receive intravenous injections to magically extract their consciousness into a “cloud.” Other works contemplate science rigorously, depicting a brain systematically deconstructed via laser scanning, leaving no doubt about the destruction of the physical entity.

Exercising my rights as a writer, I ventured beyond the fundamentals of neuroscience, boldly speculating within the realm of science fiction. While crafting this novel, I was working in various neuropsychiatric wards and preparing for my psychiatric examinations. A recent edition of New Scientist‘s what to think series, which delves into theories about consciousness, would have undoubtedly aided my research!

After studying neural networks and connectomes, I began to envision consciousness as an incredibly intricate network of activity, with unique activation patterns varying from individual to individual. If we could duplicate these connections and their activation sequences using a sufficiently advanced computer, might we be able to replicate our minds without being tethered to our physical forms? However, the question persists: will we ever have computers capable of preserving human consciousness without loss or distortion of information?

Upon sharing my early manuscript of every version of you, I was struck by the array of reactions to the concept of uploading. Some experienced fear, exclaiming, “You mean you eradicated all the originals?!” Others adopted a more detached, philosophical stance. If there exists continuity between substance and subjectivity, how can we claim that the uploaded entity is not the original person?

Should I upload myself to Gaia? My answer is far from straightforward. In an intellectual society, we often overlook that we are not merely distinct minds controlling our physical forms. We forget the intricate interplay between our minds and bodies, with the latter often leading the way. Our gut, heart, skin, glands, and blood vessels engage in perpetual dialogue with our brain.

Moreover, we are molded by our surroundings, our connections with others, and our relationship with nature. Psychoanalyst Esther Bick has discussed the concept of “psychic skin,” which serves as a vessel for our inner selves, arising from early childhood sensory experiences. Severing the link between mind and body results in loss.

In every version of you, uploading compels us to scrutinize the subtle ways technology can undermine our essence. We integrate technology into our lives and the intimate spaces of our homes and bodies, drawn to its utility, brilliance, and excitement. But who owns the data we transfer to technology? Who possesses our uploaded minds? I would endure uploading for an extended period in search of an alternative way to exist on Earth. However, I cannot definitively predict my ultimate decision. If all my loved ones resided on Gaia, resisting that allure would be incredibly challenging.

Grace Chan is the author of every version of you (Verve Books), featured as New Scientist Book Club’s Reads for November 2025. Join us to read together here.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Lake of the Lake: Why Did Adam Roberts Opt for Utopia Over Dystopia in His Novel?

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Two spacecraft explore the black hole, highlighted in Adam Roberts’ novel.

Science Photo Library / Alamy Stock Photo

The foundation of this novel stemmed from my desire to craft utopian fiction, a first for me, as my earlier works primarily revolved around traditional science fiction. The concept of utopia—portraying an improved or ideal world—predates science fiction itself, famously introduced by Thomas More in his 1516 work, Utopia.

Intrigued by the evolution of this genre, I noted that More’s Utopia inspired numerous copies. Over the subsequent 17th and 18th centuries, a multitude of utopian literature emerged. It flourished in the 19th century and continued into the 20th with notable works like Samuel Butler’s Erewhon (1872), William Morris’s News from Nowhere (1892), H.G. Wells’s A Modern Utopia (1905), and B.F. Skinner’s Walden Two (1948). Edward Bellamy’s Looking Backward (1888) stands out as a significant American bestseller, catalyzing the establishment of numerous “Bellamy Clubs” and a nationalist movement aimed at realizing his vision of utopia.

But what about our contemporary landscape? Utopian narratives seem largely relegated, replaced by an overwhelming prevalence of dystopian themes—the dark antithesis. Think of titles like The Hunger Games, Road, Divergent, and The Maze Runner, alongside numerous cyberpunk realms, Battle Royale, and Oryx and Crake. This raises an intriguing question: why has utopia fallen out of favor while dystopia thrives?

One potential explanation is that utopia inherently lacks conflict. When aspiring writers present their imaginative worlds, I often query, “Where’s the conflict?” Without conflict, there’s no drama or narrative. Crafting a perfect utopia is challenging because, by its nature, a flawless realm might lack the tension necessary for storytelling. I’ve often contended that no one truly writes a utopia, to which some might counter with Iain M. Banks’s Culture series as an example. Yet, Banks seldom delves into the euphoria of cultural existence, focusing instead on the dangers surrounding its covert agencies. In my own narrative, the characters are extricated from their utopian comforts, thrust into peril, monstrosities, and adventure.

However, I aspired to delve deeper and scrutinize the very essence of utopia itself. Is the ideal world even attainable? “Can we make the world a little better?”—this is certainly achievable, but can we fully reorganize society to achieve a flawless utopia?

Some years back, I was invited to deliver a keynote address at the Utopialess Conference, an annual event across Europe. During my visit to Tarragona, Spain, I presented my ideas, which can be summarized as follows: Utopia, as a concept, cannot elude the nuances of human nature. Some utopias manifest in authoritarian structures (as seen in More’s original vision), where the authority must reconcile power with utopian ideals. Conversely, others are grassroots endeavors, suggesting that with the removal of material or psychological ailments, humanity can coexist blissfully. I must express my skepticism; as literary critic John Carrey posits, all utopias share a fundamental desire to sanitize reality, simplifying the existence of actual human beings.

In my Utopial speech, I proposed that the most compelling representation of utopia in modern culture is a television series: Teletubbies. These entities—whether genetically modified posthumans, or simply whimsical beings—embody utopian principles, existing in a bubble of childlike simplicity where their needs are easily met, leading to constant joy. Yet, it’s unlikely that adults would perceive Teletubbyland as desirable. This suggests that the concept of utopia is somewhat infantilized. Following my lecture, I mingled at the reception, engaging with attendees. Some were dismissive and turned away when approached, a reaction clarified later by organizers. The conference attracted both literary scholars and true Utopians—those genuinely seeking to realize their visions. They felt I was mocking their aspirations.

I regret they felt insulted, but I stand by my interpretations in Lake of Darkness, where I intertwine social theory, imaginative technological elements, and distinct characters to explore utopian ideals.

Adam Roberts’ Lake of Darkness (Gollancz) is the latest selection for the New Scientist Book Club. Join us and read together here.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Returning to cash: Living without money in your pocket is not the utopia Sweden envisioned

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Back in 2018, the former lieutenant governor of Sweden’s central bank made a prediction that by 2025, Sweden would likely become a cashless society.

Fast forward seven years later, and that prediction has largely come true. Cash transactions have significantly decreased, with cards being the most popular form of payment followed closely by Swish, a mobile payment system introduced in 2012. Other mobile phone payment services are also gaining popularity.

A recent report from the Central Bank indicates that Sweden and Norway have the lowest cash circulation as a percentage of GDP globally.

However, given the current geopolitical tensions and security concerns, the idea of a completely cashless society in Sweden may not be as appealing as it once seemed.

Authorities are now urging citizens to keep and use cash for civil defense purposes. The Ministry of Defense has distributed pamphlets to households, advising people to maintain a supply of cash in various denominations for emergency situations.

The Central Bank emphasized the importance of ensuring everyone can access money in times of crisis, shifting the focus from efficiency to safety and accessibility.

Recently, the government recommended that both public and private entities continue to accept cash, a suggestion that should be implemented by central banks.

As cash usage declines, central banks have been exploring their own digital currencies. However, the focus has now shifted to monitoring the global development of digital currency.

Norway, a neighboring Scandinavian country, has also been moving towards a cashless society, introducing mobile payment systems and imposing fines on retailers who do not accept cash. The government advises citizens to keep some cash on hand due to the vulnerability of digital payment solutions to cyberattacks.

Ultimately, in terms of emergency planning, having a balanced approach between digital and cash payments seems to be the way forward.

Miranda Bryant is the Guardian’s Scandinavian correspondent

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ancient Shoreline Uncovered in Utopia Region of Mars

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Sedimentary mineral deposits discovered on the surface of Mars may be the remains of ancient oceans from 3.5 billion years ago. New results from China's Tianwen-1/Zhulong mission suggest the existence of landforms consistent with the coastline of the southern Utopian Plains, providing further evidence for the existence of a short-lived ocean early in the planet's history.

Shoryu landing site. Image credit: Wu others., doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-75507-w.

“The hypothesis of a Martian ocean in the northern lowlands remains an interesting unanswered question about the early stages of Mars' evolution,” said Bo Wu of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and colleagues.

“The presence of an ocean had a major impact on early Mars' climate and atmosphere and may have left a geological record of its existence.”

“China's Mars probe Zhulong, aboard Tianwen-1, successfully landed in the southern part of Mars' Utopia Plain in May 2021.”

“This area has long been hypothesized to be part of an ancient ocean that once covered the northern lowlands.”

In this study, Dr. Wu and his co-authors analyzed data from the Tianwen 1 orbiter and the Zhoulong rover to provide estimates of the surface age and mineral composition of materials found in the southern Utopia Plains. .

They identified distinct geomorphological features, such as valleys and sedimentary channels, consistent with near-shore zones, suggesting a possible formation event involving a flood about 3.68 billion years ago.

In this scenario, a short period of frozen ocean formed the coastline, and the sea surface may have froze and disappeared about 3.42 billion years ago.

“Different types of water-related geomorphological features were separated by specific topographic contours, suggesting different types of marine environments,” the researchers said.

“The area was subdivided into a foreshore highland-to-lowland transition unit, a shallow marine unit, and a deepwater unit.”

“In situ observations of sedimentary rocks, water-related lamination features, and subsurface sedimentary layers also indicate past water activity.”

“The results suggested an evolutionary scenario for the southern Utopian coastal zone: (i) the Late Noachian Utopian Plains flood reached the foreshore approximately 3.65 to 3.68 billion years ago; (ii) The formation of post-Flood shallow and deep marine units occurred during the early Hesperian, approximately 3.5 and 3.4 billion years ago, respectively. completed by 10 million years ago. (iii) Subsurface volatiles gradually disappeared during the Amazonian period.

of study appear in the diary scientific report.

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B. Wu others. 2024. Observations at the Turon landing site reveal an ancient coastal zone believed to be located in the southern part of Mars' utopia. science officer 14, 24389;doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-75507-w

Source: www.sci.news