The Vanguard » names

Moral Confusion

Alex Vanguard — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 06:49:38 +0000

Kinda on a dodgy 80s movies kick right now. It’s epic. XD Anyway, just watched Electric Dreams (ZOMG ), and it got me thinking, because I have a habit of crying when AI computers ‘die’. See: 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Silent Running (1972), and Electric Dreams (1984) – yes, I have cried during all three, for HAL, for the three ickle droids, and for Edgar. ;_;

(As an aside, if you haven’t watched Silent Running, you should – it’s… haunting and incredibly sad. It stays with you. Srsly.)

I’m not one who likes writing hard sci-fi. I tend to stick to dystopia. This doesn’t stop me reading hard sci-fi though, and empathising with these AI computers. And it’s this ability to empathise with these AI computers that got me wondering what sort of ethics humans will need to adhere to if/when we get to a point in the future where AI computers are widespread.

Why do I say that we’ll need ethics? They’re just machines, right?

Well, I don’t see it that way. Humans have a bad tendency to personify. It already happens with current technology. People give their gadgets and computers names, and talk about them as if they had distinct personalities. How attached do you think we’ll get when computers not only have names, but can talk and interact with us as if they were alive?

Would we consider them alive? What if they can create, independent of human intervention, like Edgar did? Would we respect their claims for ownership of their creations? Or will we claim they are our creations because they’re just machines and can’t create?

I wonder if we even have a right to give machines human-like intelligence and them claim total control over them, that we have some sort of right to decide if they live or die, insomuch as computers can live or die. If they are similar to sentient beings, if we kill them, does it become murder? Or would we end up justifying it the way we justify euthanasing animals? Could you argue those computers would have a ‘right to life’?

This is where my own opinions about this get muddled. I honestly can’t find a position because I can see all the alternatives and options and ideas and none stand out as being ‘the right choice’.

This is especially true for me with the issue of euthanasia. On the one hand, I can sympathise with wanting to end the misery for someone with a terminal illness who wishes to die. However, I can also see it as murder. I also can’t see why we can justify euthanasing animals as being ‘humane’ and ‘putting them out of their misery’, and yet applying the same thing to humans is somehow wrong. It’s not like the animals can consent to being euthanised. Indeed, there would be some terminal patients who might not be able to consent. There are also patients who do consent and wish to die, and somehow we think we know better than they do in allowing them to live and drawing out their suffering because ending their life is seen as wrong.

I know there’s a counter argument that, well, animals and people are different, but are they really? Animals feel pain. They get sick. They love us. We look after them. They might not have the same intellectual capabilities or ’sentience’ as we do, but I doubt that means they are mindless robots. There are different forms of intelligence and ways to communicate.

Still, we feel we have guardianship over our pets and animals because we feel they can’t make decisions for themselves. We have power of attorney for people who can’t make decisions for themselves. There are people who have ‘do not resuscitate’ things. And yet…

I don’t know. I’m feeling a little morbid today. I might go get some coffee once this is done and do some assignments instead of procrastinating further. I doubt I’ve solved anything in this entry, apart from articulate some thoughts on similar yet different issues. I think I had more to say, but the words aren’t there anymore, so I’ll save them for later when I can think of more to say.

So Begins Year Three of the Dragon

Alex Vanguard — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 08:25:35 +0000

On June 6th, 2006, I was divined a child of Sobek, and a beloved of Heru-sa-Aset, Aset, Djehuty and Wepwawet. My Akhu told me they were proud of me, and that I’m a pretty strong person. They also told me to use my aggression wisely.

A year ago, I was told I was a warrior and that Heru-sa would be around.

I’ve been in a contemplative mood all day. I didn’t have much time to think about it yesterday, and I did have my divination at 1am my time, which brought the date over to the seventh.

I want to go back to my morning rituals. I want to find ten minutes each morning to say my morning prayers to Them, and say goodnight to them each evening. While Senut is nice, it’s not something I would ever feel comfortable doing every day. I’d rather save Senut for more formal times.

And in the meantime? Live by Ma’at, be true to myself and keep fighting. I am not a warrior if I am not fighting.

I’m strong. I’m capable. I’m intelligent. I’m compassionate. I’m transgender and genderqueer. I’m pansexual. I protect those I care about.

Sobek em iti. Sobek is my Daddy. There is a crocodile at the very core of my being, silent and ever watchful, capable of great violence when needed and a tender carer for their young.

His sound, His voice, I feel it in my bones, in my heart, in my flesh, in my mind. To me, it is the heartbeat of the earth. To hear it is to become part of the earth, to feel its coolness, its heat, its darkness, its rough soft hard dangerous nature.

Sobek is ancient, far beyond the history of Egypt. He is old and wise and quiet and still and just there. Always there. Sometimes I can’t hear His voice, but that doesn’t mean He’s gone away. He never leaves. He’s always there, waiting until I can hear Him again. He’s a part of me like I am a part of Him. I am forever His child.

Heru-sa… I don’t often feel Him, but I know where He is. He sits behind my head and guides/protects me. He is strong and proud and fiery. He has honour.

Aset… I will always love Her. She took my hand and led me to Kemet. Even though She scares me, and can seem a little distant, I can’t stop loving Her. She is everything to me.

Djehuty… He is ever so close to my heart. He has named me “IbDjehuty” — Djehuty’s Heart. That bird is cheeky and wise, and I have much to learn from Him, I’m sure.

Wepwawet… He is not well known to me, which I am sad about. But He doesn’t seem to mind that I have a Yinepu statue in shrine for Him. He wants a complete set of canopic jars. I must get to know Him better.

I hope this year to get to know Heru-sa and Wepwa better and make more of this blog than it is now. More regular posts on all manner of topics, while keeping my far more personal things elsewhere.

So here’s to another year of figuring out stuff, and as a child of that great crocodile.

Thoughts Before Bed

Alex Vanguard — Sat, 03 May 2008 08:19:41 +0000

It’s funny what a change in perspective can do for you.

I’ve been thinking about my ancestors recently. ANZAC Day always brings them to the fore. I’m almost ashamed I give them so little thought during the rest of the year.

When I was divined, Hemet (AUS) told me that my ancestors were proud of me. Even now, to think on those words makes me choke up and want to cry, and I still have no word for the emotion it elicits from me.

To carry the name of your ancestors by choice is a big decision. One might be named after them at birth, but to choose a name once taken by a relative is quite significant. I’m at that point in my life where I plan to do this, but I’m yet to ask permission from my ancestors to do so. I feel it’s only right before taking their name as my own.

I still think on my maternal grandparents a lot. I do miss them greatly, and I still can’t shake the feeling that Grandad’s Welsh flag is meant for me. One day I’ll carry it for him in his honour.

Not a long post tonight, I know, but I needed to get these thoughts down before bed. They’ve waited a long time to be written.

Also, I’ll be writing up my thoughts on Dawkins’ little tirade against New Age stuff on Sunday. Won’t that be a laugh?