Prediction of the Future

Throughout history, mankind has turned to prophets and sages in a quest to unlock the mysteries of the future. Even modern day society exhibits an interest in turning to mystical sources to predict future events, evidenced by horoscopes which occupy the pages of the majority of newspaper publications. While I may not be able to tell you how the alignment of Jupiter and Venus will affect your love life this month, I will provide an analytical examination of the recent events in the history of mankind, and how these events may provide an insight into what awaits us in the not so distant future.

Understanding the Past in Order to Understand the Future:

To understand the possible implications of the recent events which have taken place, I believe it is necessary to put things into perspective. For the sake of argument, assume the theory of evolution proves to be an accurate depiction of how mankind has come to arrive in its current state. Imagine a primitive version of man who is placed in a constant struggle for survival in a hostile world. This primitive version of man had much to learn about the world, and all the possibilities which exist to make life easier.

Life had gone along unchanged for quite a while for this primitive man, until the miraculous day came where man learned how to interact with the environment. Grabbing a stick and examining it closely, man pondered what this stick could possibly be used for. What made man decide one day to utilize a stick as a tool, whereas the day before the thought would not have crossed his mind? Imagine witnessing this monumental moment in the development of mankind's intellect.

Mankind's Recent Intellectual Breakthrough:

What does man learning to use a stick as a tool have to do with the future of modern man? Modern man has managed to make yet another intellectual breakthrough, discovering a tool with far greater power than a stick. This tool has become part of everyday life for society, and while only in its infancy, it has managed to change our lives forever. The tool of which I speak is the very tool which I am using to write this article, the computer.

When mankind discovered the potential adaptation of using a stick as a tool, all the possible applications were not immediately known. Over the course of time, man learned to apply this tool to aiding with the necessities of life such as hunting and building shelters. The process of discovering the possible applications of a new tool is currently confronting mankind as we explore the unlimited possibilities of computers.

In the past 20 years, society has witnessed an application of computers which has put the world at your fingertips. In the early 1990's, the Internet was made into a publicly accessible resource which connected all regions of the world. As time has progressed, the Internet has grown into an immense database of information. This extraordinary and revolutionary application of computers was born only roughly 50 years after the invention of the most elementary form of computers. If mankind was able to unite the world with this technology after only 50 years, what does the future of this technology hold?

The Future, How Mankind Will Be Challenged:

When thinking about the future, it is apparent that man will face many challenges and difficulties.

Computers have provided a platform for society to explore the deepest questions of the nature of reality and our existence. A recent example of applying computers to the pursuit of knowledge is the Large Hadron Collider, which is a giant machine located on the border of France and Switzerland. This machine is the world's largest and highest-energy particle accelerator ever constructed, and will provide insights into the fundamental nature of the universe. These insights may prove to be the greatest challenge to the future of mankind.

Mankind's inability to fully understand the world has lead to the formulation of many theories which attempt to provide an explanation for our existence. If computers prove to radically change our understanding of existence, will man be able to adapt to this new knowledge? Many people in society possess firmly established views of existence which have provided meaning and purpose for their lives. What would happen if these views were to be suddenly challenged, would people be able to look past their current ideology?

Does mankind have the humility to accept our inability to understand existence? The future will prove to be a battleground of ideologies struggling to survive against insights concerning existence. If man is able to persevere through this challenging time, we may be lead into a golden age.

Throughout history, differences in ideologies have been a cause of great conflict. Many have given their life to protect their view of reality, and this conflict is still present in the modern world. Computers have the capability to increase the quality of life for humanity. By programming a machine to satisfy the needs of life, man may no longer have to work 40 hours a week in order to provide a living. It may be difficult to imagine such a life, but it appears to be not a matter of if it will ever happen, but when.

The main challenge to the golden age of modern man will be the fall of the monetary system. Money derives existence from one condition: scarcity.

By applying new technologies to a self-sustaining way of life, humanity will be presented the opportunity to no longer need a monetary system. The challenge to adapting to this way of life will be the relinquishing of power associated with money by those who possess large quantities of it. Will those currently in power realize their future generations will only benefit from a self-sustaining world? Or will the power hypnotize the wealthy into attempting to sustain their wealth?

Summary:

Never before has humanity had such an extraordinary opportunity to achieve a quality of life previously unimaginable. Society will be challenged to adapt current ideologies to new insights which will result in much conflict. Computers will provide mankind the opportunity to alleviate the need for a monetary system. Those in power who possess vast amounts of money may refuse to allow this process to be realized, due to the desire of sustaining power. If mankind is able to overcome these great challenges, society will experience a golden age where the quality of life will far exceed any previously experienced in the history of man.

Final Word:

If man is to achieve a new golden age, the process will be extremely difficult. Our current intellectual capabilities are accelerating at an exponential rate never before witnessed. Governments are no longer able to control the information provided to their populations, as the internet has created a medium for free exchange of information globally. The days of controlled media and irrational propaganda are slowly fading away as mankind seeks ultimate truth. To maintain a state of irrationality, governments will employ the use of fear based propaganda to persuade populations into accepting an agenda which is incoherent with the common good of society. If mankind is to live in constant fear of the future, the ultimate truth of life will never be realized.

The Ultimate Truth of Life:

The most basic truth of life which we are constantly distracted from, is the fact that only the present moment exists. Accepting that the future will always be the future, and the past will always be the past, is the most essential step in maximizing the quality of one's life. Society is programmed to always be striving for the next step, be it a promotion, retirement, or perhaps a graduation. While having direction in life is good, it is important to realize the futility of possessing fear of the future.

Fear creates unnecessary apprehension and stress in life which are extremely wearing on the human body. Do not sacrifice your health out of fear and apprehension of the future, for the future will be realized regardless of your emotional state. Instead, understand the importance of the present moment, for the present moment is what defines both your future, and your past. You are not defined or limited by your past experiences, nor does the past limit the possibilities of your future. Human existence is truly a dynamic experience, embrace the present moment and tune out the irrational fear based propaganda fostered by media sources.