Posted under Movies
If you have not seen it, I would definitely check out the movie Idiocracy, by Mike Judge, whom Steve Sailer has called a paleoconservative (here).
The movie is a futuristic satire on modern life, set 500 years in the future where people have become dumber and dumber over the centuries. Unlike most futuristic stories, which assume endless progress, this one actually assumes the opposite: decline.
What is especially interesting is the underlying premise of the movie, which perennially has been discussed by academics over the last 25 years: Are we in a state of “de-evolution”? Is the average IQ becoming lower? For the first time in human history, the best and the brightest are often not reproducing, and the modern welfare state rewards and encourages those to reproduce who in past times would have been unable. What was once a privilege the welfare state has made a funded right.
Is de-evolution occurring, or is it bunk science? Regardless, Idiocracy provides a comical perspective on this possibility.
Frank B Lee on 28 Feb 2007 at 5:31 pm #
Sounds like an interesting movie, and I’ll definately watch it. However, deevolution is a concern not just because technology and society combine to support the weak who then go on to reproduce.
The concern is that technology will be used… to once again correct the problem via the final solution which is what will most likely end human life.
Mankind won’t go out in a bang via nuclear or biological warfare. It won’t be WWIII or 9/11 2010 that is likely to destroy us.
We’ll go out in a whimper with designer babies and the “progress” made in that field as babies are continually designed.
This will lead to moral anarchy and the end of humanity as man will no longer have developed from his parents, nation, or from God. He will have evolved from the minds of the scientists who designed him, and they will be free to break the mold of humanity creating minor adjustments here and there.
It’s not something I mention often because it sounds half mad. However, if the thought of deevolution doesn’t scare you away, then perhaps you’re willing to think the concept of designer babies through to the their conclusion.
This is why I’m not just a paleoconservative but also a traditionalist progressive in the sense that I think only a traditional society with strong traditions, religion, and values can resist the temptation to avoid this technology like the plague except for developing defenses against other states using it. So, that is to say that not only should traditions be preserved, new traditions ought to be developed that defend against the technology.
Jerry Salyer the Hungry Catholic Writer wrote up a comical piece pointing out this same danger: FOCUS ON TRANSHUMANISM
The quest for proactive evolution. I made a similar speech in my speech class a few years ago when I was in school. I brought in a GE fish that glows and can be bought at most any pet shop, and pointed out that the hurdles to meddling with humans will soon be overcome. There’s nothing to stop a mad Chinese scientist from “designing” a machine that is technically human save he is glowing like this fish or is off in some other way. Is he human? Do we allow him into the gene pool? If such life should be respected, where do we draw the line with what is human? If only intelligence is a factor, are stupid naturally born humans with IQs of monkies to be treated as such? and the super intelligent treated as our superiors? What is to stop them from simply pursuing their own pleasures regardless of what happens to the rest of us? etc…
Needless to say that while the thought process is logical, the concept was so different that no one in the class had a clue that my conclusion was that an isolated nation state protected from the outside mess is the solution or something similar because due to the tragedy of the commons someone will break this unthinkable taboo eventually.
Frank B Lee on 28 Feb 2007 at 5:35 pm #
Deriving from God and from our nation as a human is what makes us special not any characteristic or feature of this design. Humans who are made in this natural way have souls. Machines made by man do not.
Frank B Lee on 28 Feb 2007 at 5:47 pm #
Idiots like “neocon traitor” Fukuyama already realise this: Our Posthuman Future: Consequences of the Biotechnology Revolution and Biotech our slippery slope?
Haha, and I usual I get silence as the response… Oh well if humanity is to end, it must be God’s will.
Free Dvd Rental Trial on 09 Mar 2007 at 7:04 am #
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James on 16 Jan 2008 at 4:35 pm #
Idiocracy is a fantastic film! It is bitting social satire that is very funny. You laugh so hard because you know what its telling you is so very, sadly true about our society and our future.