You Can Call Me HAL

One of the more common recurring themes we see in science fiction is the sudden sentience of man made machines, and the aftermath that occurs from their self awareness. The Terminator series paints a dire picture of an upcoming apocolypse and humanity's struggle to prevent it. The Matrix series plays on this theme also as man fights against far superior computers that man origionally created, then lost control of. Perhaps the best known example to many people of a slightly earlier generation would be HAL, the supercomputer in 2001 a Space Odyssey. HAL's self awareness and seemingly intelligent thoughts send chills up the spine of any viewers.

Human beings are often describes as the "Perfect Machines." While I'd dispute this assessment, primarily based on an abundance of medical issues we regularly encounter as a direct result of evolution's shortcomings, it seems to fit well into this analysis.

Evolution occurs on the genetic level, not on the species level. This is an important concept to understand, and it's one that most people seem to miss. We have evolved as beings specifically to carry those genes that are best suited to give us the characteristics that will help us to survive, and therefore pass along those genes. If the gene is designed to give us a slightly bigger nose, and therefore allows us to sniff out a prowling predator before our friend Og is able to, we have a better chance of surviving and passing along that big nosed gene. If a similar genetic mutation causes our noses to become correspondingly less sensitive, we're at greater risk of becoming cheetah lunch. It doesn't take a geneticist to see that this particular gene mutation will probably not make it in the long term.

Standing back for a second, we can now see that human beings, as well as fir trees, chipmunks, mushrooms, and turtles are all complex machines that were "designed" by the evolution of these genes. We are the supercomputers that were created by the genes. We are also sentient, and we now understand our creators and can make decisions independent of their wishes. We can choose to not pass along our genes simply by adopting a lifestyle that does not include progeny. We can medically preserve the health and reproductive success of people who would otherwise be unlikely to survive in a more natural setting. We can essentially subvert the intent of our genetic creators. We ARE the suddenly self aware, creepy decision makers that now hold the very survival of our makers in the palms of our hands.

It's a little more fun to be on this side of the equation, isn't it?