Machines are masters of logic. People, on the other hand, are driven by irrational hormones and myths. The most important conceit for any sane person is that they are important. No matter what cold logic may say.
Each of us encapsulates a unique universe of sensation and being. At the center of that universe – its only reason for existence – is that you are the only important thing, the center of reality. By all “external” logic, of course, that is not true, and is complete irrational madness.
All human mythology derives from that contradiction. People who only care about themselves are insane and often evil. People who do not care at all about themselves are insane and socially helpless. Most of us balance precariously on a tightrope of “stability,” always about to fall off, sometimes (hopefully) only for a moment falling off.
As a social species, we have evolved and learned to adjust so that all this is kept in check. Survival, after all, depends on cooperation, and that requires interaction with others. But sometimes a group of psychopaths can band together (each believing itself to be the most important part of the group) and threaten us all.
Our small scattered tribes could survive that in our pre-technological past. Now – well, I’m not so sure .
HuntingtonHarborThoughts 