In his book The Quantum Brain, psychiatrist and physicist Jeffrey Satinover writes, "For precisely the reason that consciousness is in some mysterious way associated with a certain kind of organization of matter - the densely integrated, nested hierarchy of matter engaged in parallel computation - we are one day soon very likely to create conscious devices, for good or for evil…. I think it quite possible that, in my lifetime, we will have at least come close to creating devices whose intelligence and capacity to self-propagate and evolve even further will greatly outstrip our own.
“Perhaps the first appearance of truly self-evolving machines will mark the end of our own evolution. In any event, I think it far more likely that we will either exceed or destroy ourselves then that we will understand ourselves.”
It is precisely this knife-edge vision of AI that Battlestar Gallactica examines. And it does so in a way that leaves us in no doubt as to who is potentially the better “man” in the struggle between humanity and its cyber off-spring. Unfortunately that revelation varies depending on which episode you’ve just watched. A teeter-totter, nail-biter, you’re never sure who you’re rooting for – or who you should root for.
The writers of Battlestar are apparently in some agreement with Satinover, for they hone in on the same vital questions. Will humanity blossom into some semblance of self-understanding before it creates the tools for its own destruction? Will a cyber race (known as the Cylons in Battlestar) outstrip us in the “humanity” department, developing deeper compassion, moral strength and spiritual insight than we ourselves are capable? Will they become our teachers? Will they mirror our darker side and eradicate us in a bid for power and dominion? Or like us, will they struggle endlessly between the light and dark within?
For those bored with the Star Trek squeaky-clean vision of space-faring, Battlestar Gallactica will provide a refreshing change. Its radical cinematography makes each episode more like an in-your-face-I’m-really-here experience than a TV show. The characterizations are incisive, and unrelentingly real. And the producers never lose sight of the deeper questions that drive the show.
The first two seasons are available on DVD. I highly recommend catching up on the previous seasons before diving into the third season opening show next month. Enjoy. page 1 2 3 4
