[b]Ted Chiang
The individuals are tragically like marionettes, independently animate but bound by a web they choose not to see; they could resist if they wished, but so few of them do.[/b]
Or, perhaps, not tragically from their point of view.
When the ancestors of humans and heptapods first acquired the spark of consciousness, they both perceived the same physical world, but they parsed their perceptions differently; the worldviews that ultimately arose were the end result of that divergence. Humans had developed a sequential mode of awareness, while heptapods had developed a simultaneous mode of awareness. We experienced events in an order, and perceived their relationship as cause and effect. They experienced all events at once, and perceived a purpose underlying them all.
Who the hell really knows what that means, but, just for the record: “Heptapods are an intelligent, space-faring extraterrestrial species in Story of Your Life and the 2016 film Arrival.”
You see, the foundations of our culture were laid in classical Greece, where physical beauty and the body were celebrated. But our culture is also thoroughly permeated by the monotheistic tradition, which devalues the body in favor of the soul. These old conflicting impulses are rearing their heads again, this time in the calliagnosia debate.
One man’s opinion?
If those scientists could come up with some way to turn off the jerk circuit in guys’ brains, I’d be all in favor of that.
Starting with the Kids of course.
No one relishes the prospect of humans being conceived artificially. But can you offer an alternative?
Let’s think up one.
Men are no different from your automata; slip a bloke a piece of paper with the proper figures on it, and he’ll do your bidding.
Even if that bloke’s a woman.