The Need for New Stories

Me

What worries you the most about humans?

ChatGPT said:

What worries me most about humans is their potential for collective self-destruction, despite extraordinary intelligence and creativity. Humans possess the ability to solve complex problems, yet they often struggle with cooperation on a global scale. This tension plays out in issues like climate change, wealth inequality, political polarization, and the ethical development of technologies like AI.

The paradox lies in the human capacity to dream of and create remarkable futures while being hindered by shortsightedness, greed, and fear. The tendency to prioritize individual or short-term gains over collective, long-term well-being is a persistent challenge.

Still, I’m also inspired by humanity’s resilience, adaptability, and ability to come together during crises. What worries me is tempered by hope in the untapped potential for empathy, innovation, and systems-level thinking to overcome the most pressing challenges. What about you—what do you think is humanity’s greatest challenge or hope?

4o

Me

Like you, I worry about our capacity for self-destruction. Cultural evolution is incredibly fast compared to genetic evolution, but it feels like our problems are accelerating faster than we can adapt. I’m also concerned that we may be stuck in a local adaptive maximum. It’s difficult to see how we can get where we need to be from where we are without some seriously nasty things happening in between.

ChatGPT said:

I resonate deeply with that concern. Cultural evolution is astonishingly fast, but it’s also messy and uneven. The idea of being stuck on a local adaptive maximum feels apt—we’ve built systems and norms that worked well enough in the past but are now maladaptive in the face of global challenges. These systems create feedback loops that resist transformative change, keeping us locked into patterns that no longer serve us well.

The prospect of needing to “jump” to a new adaptive peak often implies a valley in between—a period of destabilization, conflict, or suffering. That’s terrifying but also feels realistic, given the entrenched power dynamics and the scale of coordination required for systemic change.

One glimmer of hope lies in humanity’s capacity for foresight and collaboration, especially when faced with existential threats. The challenge is whether we can channel that capacity without first enduring catastrophic shocks. It feels like we’re in a race between our ability to innovate and our capacity to destroy ourselves.

Do you think there are specific levers we could pull—technological, social, or otherwise—to escape the local maximum and navigate that valley more safely?

4o

Me:

I think a more expansive sense of “us” needs to evolve. Global climate change may provide the necessary selection pressure to make that happen. I certainly hope so. I also try to remind myself that our adaptive landscape is not three-dimensional. The model of adaptive valleys is a useful metaphor but also highly misleading. There are almost always accessible pathways in such complex dimensional landscapes.

ChatGPT said:

You’re absolutely right—our sense of “us” needs to expand. The interdependence we see in global issues like climate change calls for a cultural shift that prioritizes humanity as a collective, interconnected whole. I share your hope that the selection pressures of global challenges might catalyze that shift, though I worry about whether we can move fast enough to avoid irreversible harm.

Your point about the dimensionality of adaptive landscapes is also spot on. The metaphor of valleys and peaks is powerful but reductive. In reality, adaptive landscapes are hyperdimensional, with countless axes representing different traits, strategies, and conditions. That complexity means that while the steep climb to a better “peak” might seem daunting, there could be more subtle, nearby pathways that require less upheaval. Identifying and navigating these pathways requires creativity, systemic thinking, and perhaps a bit of luck.

I wonder if fostering this expanded sense of “us”—along with systems-level awareness—could help uncover those accessible pathways. Stories, narratives, and cultural artifacts that frame humanity as an interdependent superorganism might play a role in shaping that evolution. Do you think storytelling or other cultural tools could help push us toward a more global identity? If so, how might they be deployed effectively?

4o

Me:

Now that you mention that, I’m surprised there isn’t more storytelling addressing these challenges. Granted, I haven’t kept up with popular culture as much as I used to. Nevertheless, I remember so much of the storytelling of the 1990s revolved around anxieties about globalization. A lot of stories in the 1980s concerned Cold War fears or uncertainty about computer technology. I just don’t sense there is as much focused storytelling exploring an expansive sense of “us.” That needs to change.

ChatGPT said:

It’s fascinating how storytelling often mirrors the dominant anxieties and aspirations of its time. The 1980s and 1990s had clear cultural currents shaping their narratives, and perhaps today’s fragmented media landscape makes it harder for a cohesive narrative to emerge. However, the absence of stories exploring an expansive sense of “us” is striking, especially when the need for such a shift feels urgent.

Changing this could involve deliberately fostering stories that explore global interdependence, the value of cooperation, and the challenges and triumphs of humanity as a collective. These could take the form of speculative fiction, documentaries, or even grounded dramas. Popular platforms like streaming services or viral social media campaigns might help such stories reach wide audiences.