TEDxVancouver - Neill Blomkamp
posted by OnThePath | February 10, 2010
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Icerocket"The transition from type 0 civilization to type 1 civilization is the most trying ...
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The Transition Towards a Type 1 Civilization
— Feb 13, 2010
Blomkamp's discussion of a Type 1 Civilization is part of a debate that's been going on for a while. Famed futurist and physicist Michio Kaku has even discussed this concept in a very similar manner, but without all of Mr. Blomkamp's great visuals. What they both have in common is in discussing an extremely important aspect of our development as a species, and the dangers that a transition towards a unified global community poses.
Like stated by many religions, humanity will face a period of difficult trials, a Judgment Day if you will, that will decide whether we persist and endure as a species, or fade into nothingness. I believe that day happened in July 1945 when the nuclear weapon was developed, and for the first time in its history, humanity was entrusted with knowledge that could directly lead to our own self-destruction. So far, we seem to have passed the test, with a couple of near-misses. Japan, unfortunately, got a taste of the horrors of such a weapon, and the terror of the Cold War almost escalated to the end of it all.
However, if we continue to develop, not only technologically and scientifically, but also socially and as a global community, if we finally accept our common heritage on this lonely planet on the outskirts of the Milky Way Galaxy, if we embrace that most sacred imperative, to endure, then we might see the dawn of an Earth united from one hemisphere to the other. Even though it may sound Utopian, this is something well within our reach. The estimates range from 200 years like Neill's estimate, to Ray Kurzweill's 45 years.
However long it takes and wherever it may lead us, we should be shouting from the roof-tops to stop, look and listen.
Keep the discussion rolling, and keep the debate going. The one thing we can in fact do is discuss our common future on this planet, and what future we want our children to truly have. If you would like to find out more about the idea of a Type 1 Civilization, please visit http://www.type1civ.org/ Welcome to the discussion.
