Introduction

Davis’ article on technology, wisdom and spirituality, will either leave you with more questions or present a unique view of historical fact with revelations about the future of humanity. While learning does not seem to be a central focus of this selection, it is present. Davis will suggest that humanity is basically on a road map to its own discoveries and learning. The more that we learn about this “map”, the more we will be able to use it to our advantage. These revelations are not limited to the physical world, but are apart of the virtual world as well. Davis will imply then that the order and structure of computer memory / places follows a very divine design. If we are the creators of these divine productions, then humanity is becoming more divine through its creations.

Thought Process

Davis’ paper on techgnosis  (technology + mystical transcendence of information) highlights the state of religious evolution in a manner that is applied to the ever evolving state of technology and computation. Just as our religious beliefs and understandings have matured over time, so has our awareness of what technology can provide to us in the future. This future is one in which technology provides all the answers we seek or need, as if it were god like, the atonement of wisdom and knowledge, to which a god should be. Furthermore, these answers might be so enlightening that they take the flawed human form beyond its current corporal abilities – with so much access to knowledge, one may be able to transcend death itself. One can interrupt that Davis sees us not just as consumers of information, but as divine overseers of information.  With this in mind, there will be no separation between people (entities) and we will all become one, or a singularity.

Conclusion

It is possible to assume that Davis is right in his observations and assumptions about technology. We continue to see how (shared) knowledge is making us more intelligent and more aware. Offloading of particular human tasks/requirements to technological creations might just speak to how we are forming our own god from that of silicon chips. In the end, Davis’ presents a valid (yet confusing) view of the state of technology, wisdom and spirituality. Some may ask why he did not speak to the faults of humans, as divinity benefits from the fact they are born divine, while humans struggle with our own weaknesses. These weaknesses will surely become present in the technology we create – it’s the nature of humanity.

Davis, E. (1993). Techgnosis: Magic, memory, and the angels of information. South Atlantic Quarterly, 92(4), 585-616.