What triggers consciousness?
That’s the question on my mind just now. I’ve been following the whole debate about Artificial Intelligence, about whether or not it is heading for a conscious state—and whether that consciousness will make it a threat to humankind.
So when I think on it, I want to take it back a step. When we say ‘threat to humankind’, exactly what do we mean by human?
Contributors this issue explore that question. Kicking off, is my own contribution, “Rebel, Rebel,” which originally appeared in the anthology “UbiquiCity,” edited by the very human Tod Foley. My young heroine heads in a very different direction than the hero of the movie “Ex Machina,” and feels very differently about Artificial Intelligence. AI is her friend. Humans? It depends on how conscious they are.
Unconsciousness in humans can, of course, lead to hilarity, as in Charles Holdefer’s “Second Thoughts.” If you can read it without laughing out loud, you may not be fully conscious yourself. I personally have always wanted a piece for EAP that stars Nancy Pelosi coming to get someone’s guns.
And Bruce Thompson continues to be a thoughtful consciousness, asking what triggers connection, in “Mousetraps.” Jim Meirose joins us for the first time, and I can’t get “The Great Maestro Takes on Gage” out of my mind, like the words I haven’t consciously listened to in a song.
“For Those That Have No Existence,” by EAP regulars Ronnie Pontiac and Tamra Lucid, looks at the root of all evil—and it may not come as a surprise to anyone that we have to be open to our own errors to become fully human.
Also, as Marie Davis and Margaret Hultz always argue, this time in “Kitchen Truths,” we have to be open to alternatives.
Then there are the poets. Man, we had a lot of great poets step up this issue. “A Perfect Stump,” by Brendan Hamilton. Chris Farago’s “Moon” and “Moon, Revisted”. EAP’s poetry editor, Marissa Bell Toffoli, and her “Door.” John Grey’s “On That Short City Walk.”
And then there’s Benjamin White, whose subject is always human. “Triggers.”
What does it mean to be human? That’s the real question.
What do you think?
Welcome back.