EMPATHICS

EMPATHICS, Acrylic on wood panel, 10 x 10" (25.4 cm. X 25.4 cm.)
November 2008, Los angeles

This painting, (and 3 others) will be shown and sold at this years "ART BASEL MIAMI" in Miami Florida December 4 - 7, ( www.artbaselmiamibeach.com/go/id/ss/ ) If you are interested in the purchase of this piece, please e-m to rsconnett@gmail.com

This painting illustrates some of my fancies about human communication in a higher age of human evolution. I dream of communicating "empathically" through technological enhancements to our abilities. Empathy is superior to telepathy, and certainly to verbal language. It is to communicate with emotion. This would be a grand language! There would be little chance of misunderstanding.

I've been reading about "Transhumanisum" … "A term often used as a synonym for "human enhancement". Also known as "Posthumanisum".

It is an international, intellectual and cultural movement supporting the use of science and technology to enhance human mental and physical abilities and aptitudes, and overcome what it regards as undesirable and unnecessary aspects of the human condition, such as disability, suffering, disease, aging, and involuntary death." (quoted from Wikipedia; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transhumanism)

I've been concerned about death since I was a child. It's been a great motivator for me. Death is the greatest betrayal of life! Just when you begin to get good at it, you die!? Isn't that a bit of a "GYP"?

All through the history of mankind people have found ways to "make peace" with death. What choice have we? From the first historical records we find reference to death and "afterlife" Religions were invented (in part) to answer the question of the greatest human tragedy, our own death.

What could possibly be worse than death? Yes, life can become terrible in many ways, and one might welcome death under certain circumstances. I certainly agree with this. My father died a terrible death as a result of a more terrible state of life. So, I understand. However, when life is still vital. When we want our life to go on, to do more, it is indeed a tragedy beyond any other to die! This is premature death! And I believe most people die prematurely.

There are those who believe that life can be sustained in good health and sharp mentality through the use of technology. These are the Transhumanists. One whom I most admire is Ray Kurzweil. He has 'almost' convinced me that it will be possible to not only live longer, but to become much more than who we currently are. He belives we can transcend our own current biological state. And indeed, it is our duty to do so! It's a matter of evolve or die! It always has been. Now, it is up to us to take the next evolutionary step through our talents of invention. We can no longer rely of biological evolution to save our species.

The merging of human biology and human technology is the next step in human evolution. This is why the robots will not revolt; we WILL BE the robots!

In the same way that the first man invented a tool, or utilized energy (fire) to improve and extend his existence, we shall embrace and merge with technology as the next step in human evolution. It may be a bit late for me, (and that pisses me off!) but I continue on with a glimmer of hope. I have little hope for existence beyond the grave, though I keep an open mind to all things.

It would be wonderful to be free from the world we live in now, and enter a new phase of existence. I would live in a world where the only limitations are imagination.

In my own small way, this is the world which I do my utmost to live in now. It is not always so easy. Oft times the grim hands of reality swoop down to pluck me from my reveries. I spend my days toiling by the "sweat of my brow", being the accursed white Christian that I am :)

I highly recommend reading the books by Raymond Kurzweil, and about the man. Here are some links;

About Ray kurzweil: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Kurzweil

The Age of Intelligent Machines: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Age_of_Intelligent_Machines

The Singularity Is Near: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Singularity_Is_Near

By the way, Someone here described the "SINGULARITY" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technological_singularity ) to me, and I lost track of who this was. If you read this … Thank you very much! I have learned much and been much inspired!