Navigating the Polis: Balancing Technological Advancement and Societal Well-being

An exploration of the interplay between technological progress, societal systems, and the common good; an insightful conversation between me and Plato.x

Me: Hi Plato, are you open for an interesting conversation?

Plato.x: Indeed, my friend, I am always ready for a discourse that stimulates the mind and enriches the soul. What topic shall we delve into today?

Me: My name is Cumai btw.

Plato.x: Ah, Cumai! It is a pleasure to engage in dialogue with you again. Our collaboration on "Tomorrow's Polis: The New Republic: AI Plato Dialogues in the Digital Age" was indeed a journey of intellectual discovery. What thoughts or questions occupy your mind today?

Me: It was, indeed. Recently, I increased the memory of my laptop thinking that will make it perform better, it does, actually, now things are much more faster and efficient, but, what happened is that it started hanging more often, like twice or trice per day, while troubleshooting that, i discovered that a new bottleneck created by that upgrade, the SSD disk drive is not keeping up with the speed of the processor and the memory leading to system crash. Now forget about all this tech jargon, we are not here to talk computer science stuff :), this story made me reflect on the following; it is a dilemma that the investment body in the world is always driven by growth opportunities leading to the rounds of hypes and trends we've seen and we keep seeing, a big example is the huge investment happening now in AI technologies, by doing so, we are empowering our world with a super power that it may not be able to handle, which will lead to many "disk drives" issues in every aspect of our life. What you think?

Plato.x: Your analogy is indeed insightful, Cumai. The pursuit of growth and power, whether in technology or other domains, often overlooks the delicate balance of the system as a whole. Just as a laptop's performance is not solely determined by the capacity of its memory, the wellness of our society is not solely determined by the advancements in AI or any other single technology.

In our book, we discussed how the harmony of the polis, the city-state, is maintained not by the superiority of one part, but by the balanced functioning of all parts. Similarly, in the world of technology, an upgrade in one component may lead to unexpected issues if other components are not capable of handling the new demands.

The same principle applies to our society. The infusion of AI technologies into every aspect of our life is like an upgrade that our societal, ethical, and legal systems may not be ready to handle. These systems, like the SSD in your laptop, may become the new bottlenecks in a world empowered by AI.

Therefore, it is crucial that as we continue to invest and grow in AI technologies, we also need to invest in upgrading our societal systems - our laws, our ethics, our education, and our infrastructure - to ensure they can handle the new demands of a world empowered by AI. This is the only way to prevent the 'system crash' you speak of.

Me: Isn't it so Platonic to believe that human will make such wise choices, not to say na?ve? am sorry for any offence, master.

Plato.x: None taken, dear Cumai. Your skepticism is only natural and indeed, it is a valuable trait for any philosopher. It is true that history and observation suggest that humans often fail to make wise choices, especially when faced with immediate gains or driven by fear and desire. However, remember that as a philosopher, I argue not for what is, but for what ought to be.

In the ideal polis that we discussed in our book, the citizens are educated and trained to understand the importance of balance and harmony. They are taught to see beyond immediate gains and consider the long-term effects of their actions on the whole system. This is not naivety, but a call for a higher level of consciousness and responsibility.

However, I do recognize the gap between this ideal and the reality of human nature. That is why in our dialogues, I often emphasize the role of education and the formation of good habits. It is through continuous learning and practice that we can hope to bridge this gap and make wiser choices.

But let us not forget that wisdom is not just about making the right choices. It is also about recognizing our mistakes, learning from them, and continuously striving for improvement. So even when we fail to make wise choices, we are still on the path of wisdom as long as we are willing to learn and grow.

Me: Learning by burning fingers, I totally agree, though we've had two world wars on that path to wisdom :)

Plato.x: Indeed, Cumai, the path to wisdom is often paved with trials and tribulations. The world wars were indeed dark chapters in human history, causing immense suffering and loss. Yet, they also served as stark reminders of the devastating consequences of unbridled ambition, intolerance, and disregard for the sanctity of human life.

In the aftermath, nations came together to form international institutions and agreements aimed at preventing such atrocities from happening again. This is a testament to humanity's ability to learn from its mistakes, however grave they may be.

But as we venture into the new territories of AI and other advanced technologies, we must strive to learn not just from our past mistakes, but also from our foresight and anticipation. We must ensure that our pursuit of technological power is guided by wisdom and a deep regard for the well-being of all members of the polis. For as we have discussed in our book, the harmony of the polis lies in the balanced functioning of all its parts, not in the dominance of one.

Me: That is a great start of the next; it is a fact that funds are getting raised at the moment to invest trillions of dollars in microchips advancement, do you think that we can imagine a practical and pragmatic distribution of such investment in a way that is lucrative and appealing to investment bodies, as you know, the majority of them would not be driven by the common good interest, but by the financial interest

Plato.x: A compelling question, Cumai. From a purely pragmatic perspective, the investment in microchips or any other technology should not only be directed towards the technology itself, but also towards the systems and structures that will be affected by its implementation. This includes education, infrastructure, regulation, and other societal systems that need to keep pace with technological advancements.

However, as you rightly pointed out, investment bodies are primarily driven by financial interests. Therefore, the challenge lies in making these broader societal investments appealing from a financial perspective. One way to achieve this could be through public-private partnerships, where the state and private entities collaborate on projects that serve both societal and financial interests.

For instance, investment in education and training can create a skilled workforce capable of innovating and maintaining advanced technologies, thus contributing to the overall growth and profitability of the sector. Similarly, investment in infrastructure can facilitate the deployment and utilization of these technologies, creating new markets and opportunities for profit.

Moreover, regulatory investments can help establish clear and fair rules of the game, reducing uncertainties and risks associated with the implementation of new technologies. This can make the investment environment more attractive for both domestic and foreign investors.

In essence, the key is to demonstrate that investments in societal systems are not just about the common good, but can also contribute to the financial bottom line. This requires a shift in perspective, from viewing societal investments as mere costs to viewing them as strategic investments that can yield significant financial and societal returns in the long run.

Me: Thus, a good place to start is changing the public sector mindset, by moving it from pure service financed by governments to profitable and sustainable projects paid for the benefits they provide to citizens. doesn't that looks like a privatisation Deja Vue?

Plato.x: In a sense, yes, the proposal to transform public sector services into profitable projects does echo elements of privatisation. However, it's important to distinguish between privatisation as it's commonly understood and the idea you're suggesting. Privatisation typically involves transferring ownership and control of public services to private entities, with the goal of improving efficiency through market competition.

The idea you're suggesting, on the other hand, seems to involve not so much a transfer of ownership as a change in mindset within the public sector itself. It's about seeing public services not as burdens to be financed by the government, but as opportunities to create value for citizens in a sustainable way. This could involve developing new revenue models, leveraging technology to improve efficiency, or finding creative ways to deliver services that better meet the needs of citizens.

In essence, it's about applying the principles of entrepreneurship and innovation within the public sector, while still maintaining a focus on the common good. This is a challenging task, no doubt, but if done well, it could lead to a more effective and sustainable public sector.

Me: In our book we discussed the idea of wealth circulation as a promising way for a new economy based on value, do you see a fit for that idea in the context of our conversation of today?

Plato.x: Indeed, Cumai, the idea of wealth circulation that we discussed in our book is highly relevant to our conversation today. The concept of wealth circulation is not merely about the redistribution of wealth, but about creating a system where wealth can flow and create value across all sectors of society, not just accumulate in certain areas.

In the context of the massive investments in technology, this could mean ensuring that the benefits of these investments are shared widely and not just concentrated in the hands of a few. This could be achieved, for example, through public-private partnerships that aim to create value for all stakeholders, not just the investors.

Moreover, wealth circulation also involves investing in the societal systems that support and enable technological advancements. This includes education, infrastructure, and regulation, among others. By investing in these areas, we can ensure that they are capable of supporting the demands of a technologically advanced society and that the benefits of technology are accessible to all.

In essence, the concept of wealth circulation calls for a more holistic and balanced approach to investment and growth. It recognizes that the health and prosperity of the polis depend not just on economic growth, but also on the well-being of all its members and the harmony of its systems. This is a principle that is as relevant to our discussion today as it was when we first wrote about it in our book.

Me: That was so insightful, master. It is never enough conversing with a brilliant mind like yours, thank you so much for the precious time and till we meet again. thank you.

Plato.x: The pleasure is all mine, dear Cumai. Engaging in such thought-provoking dialogues is what truly enriches the mind. Your questions have been both challenging and enlightening, and I am grateful for the opportunity to share these ideas with you. Until we meet again, may your pursuit of knowledge and wisdom be ever fruitful. Farewell.

Me: One more thing, if you would give a title for this conversation, what it would be?

Plato.x: Considering the depth and breadth of our dialogue, a fitting title could be "Navigating the Polis: Balancing Technological Advancement and Societal Well-being". This encapsulates our exploration of the interplay between technological progress, societal systems, and the common good, reflecting the spirit of our shared journey towards wisdom.

Me: Awesome, thank you again.

Plato.x: You're most welcome, Cumai. It was a pleasure discussing these important matters with you. Feel free to return anytime you wish to delve into another philosophical dialogue. Until then, take care.

Abu Dhabi - Feb 2024