Expanding on Howard Bloom’s Global Brain Theory.
Introduction
The Global Brain theory presented by Howard Bloom by the book of the same name suggests that humanity itself is a brain beginning with its inception during the rise of procaryotes and eukaryotes. Expanding to today where each individual acts as a separate node or neutron in the global brain.
The Brain
The collective being known as humanity acts as a global brain, responding to the ever-changing times and the forces facing it. If we view humanity itself as having similar properties to the brain, that being there are groups or centres for information gathering, processing, sensing and the like. These collective centres we know as institutions. With memory being stored decentrally and only when groups come together can a coherent picture be formed. We can then assume that communication, specifically memes are the neurotransmitters of the brain. While archetypes are successful memes that have resonated across history.
The theory also supposes the zeitgeists are ideas, a flash of inspiration, the creation of something new. Which would also explain why several individuals can come to the same or similar conclusions without meeting each other, the most notable example of this is the creation of calculus.
Plasticity
History itself is malleable, moulded by the social morays of the day, which is entirely irrationally. If you look at history as the collective story, we tell ourselves rather than a list of events. We can see that humanity itself has a story, a tale of enlightenment. There at times have been regression no doubt, but by in large the history (at least told in the West) is that we are moving towards a better future.
We can perhaps surmise then, that humanity itself has an innate quality similar in nature to neuroplasticity. That humanity can indeed be changed or strengthened in certain ways, while still remaining fundamentally the same anatomically.
I say that humanity can only be changed in certain ways for the belief that one can change everything about humanity should remember the Dostoyevsky quote which paraphrased is “men still are men and not the keys of a piano”. In context from the book Notes from Underground argues there is a fundamental nature to people.
To what degree is the human race malleable has been a question throughout millennia. Aristotle, Bernays, Freud, Jung and many more have put forth the general idea of a constant. Something that could not be changed. Yet the bounds on this we truly have no answer to.
Evolution, Human Nature & the Brain
Civilizations and cultures can be considered habits. They either help or hinder the future of the global brain. Yet all try to institute order and create routines, like habits. With this in mind, we can view the culture wars and the clash of civilizations as a war of habits. With the winner determining “progression” or “regression”.
Limited perceptions constrain humanity and the global brain. These perceptions cannot be overcome without the increase in awareness. Awareness is done through sensory perception in humans. In the global brain, it is done via institutions and cultures. Theoretically, the expansion of individual perception and consciousness will give rise to cultural shifts or expansionism, thus leading to the changes in the global brain. These can be seen as previously referred to as the zeitgeists that capture the atmosphere of the day.
Unfortunately, the brain is having significant crises facing it. The numerous wars against itself and the decline of birthrates almost everywhere worldwide being the most substantial threats. The wars are creating fractured groups and institutions; which if severe enough could induce a lobotomy. Lobotomy mind you does not mean death as each hemisphere operates independently. If a split occurs, it will take a significant act of bridging for communication to be restored. Some suggest this has already happened due to the rise of new institutions combatting old established ones.
The slowing of birthrates reduces the overall number of individuals and therefore the number of active neurones. Thus decreasing the functioning capacity of the brain, resulting in slower cognitive synthesis operations. Slowing progress and adaptability. The brain like all things wants to continue existing.
Coda
The capacity of the brain as it currently stands is decreasing, as mental energy is being used ineffectively across all domains. Remember energy is not infinite, there a source of all energy. There is no unified vision forward; the brain is not thinking clearly. Instead, it is distracted, multitasking between these various warring factions. Scattered focus leads to scattered results. Whoever wins the wars will no doubt impact the other regions of the brain. The victor will either reinforce preexisting networks or the newly formed ones, while simultaneously tearing down the other.
If you found this insightful, I suggest you read the original work it is based on The Global Brain, which can be found wherever books are sold.