It certainly does not serve New Earth Consciousness

Let’s Play Match Game ’76

What Elon Musk Says About Neuralink is _________[fill in the blank]

Does anyone remember this fabulous game show? Well, maybe many do as I just Googled and Wikipedia reports there’s a present revival. For those who have not seen the show, the host reads a fill in the blank question, which is a easy lob for a few obviously funny double entendres, and the goal is for the contestant’s answer to match the answers given by each of six celebrity panelists. Richard Dawson always gave the cheekiest answers — surprise surprise — not.

Anyway, this has nothing to do with the subject of this piece — I thought of it as a way to get a number into the title, which apparently makes articles on Medium much more likely to be read (see 9 Tips to help improve your earnings on Medium by K. Robertson).

On May 9, 2020, it was widely reported that Musk said of Neuralink:

“You wouldn’t need to talk,” Musk said, adding: “We could still do it for sentimental reasons.” He went on: “You would be able to communicate very quickly and with far more precision … I’m not sure what would happen to language. In a situation like this it would kind of be like The Matrix. You wanna speak in a different language? No problem, just download the program.“

Apparently with this in mind, my first and therefor favorite follower, Alexandre Porto, for whom I have highest regard, wrote:

Neuralink can improve human consciousness in a few ways, but one of the biggest improvements is that it will be able to link multiple minds together. This could lead to things like advanced telepathy between people.

When a group of people can share thoughts with each other, they will be able to coordinate together more effectively and have better communication

See, Porto’s Article.

I took exception to Musk’s comments and tweeted about it in May. I questioned the basis for the predictive assessment that linked minds would yield faster and more precise communication. My Musk-Tweet. I am pleased to now do so without the 280-character-limitation.

My favorite author is Hermann Hesse — he has profoundly impacted me; philosophically, spiritually and as a writer. Hesse says of spoken communication:

Words do not express thoughts very well. They always become a little different immediately after they are expressed, a little distorted, a little foolish.

I for one find this to be true, especially when trying to orally articulate deep thinking. Does it follow then that the ability to convey thoughts telepathically will cure this shortcoming? I say no!

Explaining a conscious thought telepathically still requires language, and for the linked minds to know the same language. If that language is English, with its innumerable words with multiple definitions, I fail to see how telepathy creates precision.

Perhaps Musk is thinking that its peoples’ subconsciousness that will be linked. Assuming for sake of argument that incarnated souls can communicate with each other via the link, how would the thoughts then be conveyed to the conscious mind? Later that night when the person goes to sleep through a dream? Or while awake as a light bulb going off in one’s head aha moment? Certainly no advancement in speed or precision with these; and what of thoughts not meant to be conveyed, as most thoughts are not and should not. Will the link allow for filter — for impulse control?

One should always ask what purpose a technology serves. Using this tech to treat brain injuries and disorders serves a tremendous purpose and Musk should be lauded — as we get more and more technologically advanced, I hope inventors prove how smart one is as much by what one does not design — design for the betterment of humanity — not to make us less human.

With respect to Musks comments on the Matrix, I say no fucking way! Besides exposing one’s mind, or many minds, or an entire population to hacking and outside control (see Dr. Who episode entitled “The Bells of St. John), downloading an ability is not learning. We Humans love to learn. That use would be dehumanizing.

Ah, I just filled in the blank. Please respond with your answers.

Lastly, my dear Alexandre, no technology can bring us to higher levels of consciousness. Nothing that makes life easier elevates our consciousness; technology cannot take Earth from 3D to 5D. Natural psychedelics, meditation, any path to increased spirituality, any step in a Journey to the East (Hesse 1932), yes; anything that dulls the human spirit, NO!