Chapter 472: Intellectualism
Lin Xian stood on the top of a tall building, his feet on a metal pipe. Several patrol drones had surrounded him, and alarms were blaring.
Looking at the beautiful female bionic man in front of him, a message instruction flashed on Lin Xian's retinal projection.
[For the glorious development of human civilization, please complete your suicide! ]
Lin Xian frowned slightly: "I commit suicide? What does that have to do with human civilization?"
"To cope with resource depletion caused by solar flares, 90% of the world's population will voluntarily end their lives through neural implants in exchange for the 'continuation of human civilization.'" The female android explained calmly, like a caring waitress. "Number 17695516, as a Type II intelligent human, your social agreement clearly stipulates that you have a responsibility and obligation to contribute to the world."
"If resources are depleted, you're going to force 90% of the population to commit suicide?" Lin Xian looked puzzled. "What if I refuse? Are you going to just wipe me out?"
"According to the provisions of Civilization Agreement No. 1, androids do not have the authority to harm or kill humans. The right to life of intelligent humans has the highest priority and protection level. You are a member of a sacred and great world, a world without killing and sin. According to Blue Star's instructions, individuals who are unable to commit honorable suicide will be taken to the Redemption Center. You will commit painlessly in 48 hours, and your number will be forever sealed in the civilization history storage unit of the Star Dome Intelligence."
"My goodness, I've only heard of painless abortions, but never painless suicide. Isn't this euthanasia?"
Lin Xian looked down at his mechanical arms and lower limbs and found that he was unable to use his mechanical heart at all.
In other words, he couldn't escape.
"Mechanical Heart?" The beautiful bionic woman tilted her head slightly and looked at Lin Xian.
"Can you know what I'm thinking?!" Lin Xian was horrified. Before he could react, two flying drones suddenly approached from behind, extending several mechanical tentacles to grab his upper and lower limbs, making him unable to move.
Lin Xian immediately tried to break free, but he was powerless without any special abilities. He even felt very uncomfortable in this body. However, thinking that this was just some kind of experience demonstration of the metal ball, he simply gave up struggling and waited to see how this group of people were going to "eliminate" him.
After Lin Xian was apprehended, the female android stepped forward and said, "I don't understand your intentions. As a Type II intelligent human, you retain your complete brain, spinal cord, and reproductive system. Beyond that, all your internal organs have been replaced by bionic systems. Telomere testing at birth estimates a lifespan of approximately 170-182 years, and the lifespan of your bionic heart is set at 200 years. This cannot be changed with initial permissions. Furthermore, your attempt to escape is extremely dangerous. The altitude here is over 400 meters, and you could be accidentally injured or killed. As human servants, we have an obligation to ensure your safety."
Lin Xian frowned slightly when he heard this. As expected, in this world, his thoughts were transparent!
His thoughts could be seen through by these law enforcers without any blind spots, which immediately gave Lin Xian a feeling of almost suffocation.
At this time, two drones picked him up and boarded a transport plane that had been hovering in the sky for a long time. The female bionic man also sat opposite him. The hatch closed and the transport ship began to fly towards the distance.
As she had just said, these law enforcement officers were very polite to him. It looked like an arrest, but in reality it was a completely compulsory 'service'. Not only did they prepare a luxurious seat for him, but there was even an entertainment and audio-visual system in the room.
"My name is Ellie, your honorable suicide server, or you can call me whatever you like."
The bionic person 'Aili' sat opposite Lin Xian. When Lin Xian was curious about her, she immediately took the initiative to introduce herself.
Lin Xian was about to speak again, but the other party read his thoughts again and spoke to him with a smile.
"We are about to go to Redemption Center No. 3. The flight time is approximately 3 hours and 12 minutes."
Lin Xian smiled helplessly, then simply looked at Ai Li and asked her all his questions.
"It is currently the year 619 of the Civilization Era. The [Civilization Agreement] was established by the remaining leaders of all humanity after World War III."
"World War III? Why did the era start counting from 0?" Lin Xian asked. "Also, how did World War III happen?"
"According to research, World War III broke out in the year 2179 of the Old World Calendar and lasted a total of 11 years. The cause of the outbreak was the conflicting interests between the existing multipolar world structure and the social and political systems of various countries. The core of this conflict was humanity's inability to truly find a solution to the problem of wealth distribution under technological monopoly, known as the 'Matthew Effect'. This ultimately led to uneven wealth distribution and triggered class conflicts."
"After World War III, the world's nuclear weapons were eliminated, the means of production were reshaped, and humanity, through the final artificial intelligence 'Deep Blue', calculated a new civilization system - nootropics."
"Under the intellectual-body system, global humanity is uniformly defined as an 'equal class' of intelligent humans. Bionic labor completely replaces humans, and intelligent humans are rewarded with the computing power output of the human-in-the-loop. This means that based on human intelligence and learning, individual consciousness is ultimately formed, which is converted into computing power output through brain-computer interfaces, contributing to civilization and gaining social status. Therefore, the only way to wealth is through the 'human-in-the-loop' system, and the rewards obtained are social welfare distributed by the 'super-intelligent brain'. By isolating the means of production and rewards through the 'super-intelligent brain', the rights and interests are resolved, solving the 'Acton Problem' and 'Locke Problem' in human history, and completely eliminating class, gender, and racial discrimination."
"A unified civilization?!"
Lin Xian's eyes trembled when he heard this: "Does this mean that all humans should not participate in power decision-making and the distribution of benefits? But the problem is that people's wisdom also varies!"
"Intelligence, as the sole productive force, can effectively resolve class, gender, and racial issues. This means that individuals with superior intelligence genes can achieve higher social welfare and status. According to the [Civilization Protocol], intelligent humans are divided into three types. You, Mr. 17695516, belong to Type II."
"Doesn't that still mean there are class distinctions? What about people who are born with low intelligence or disabilities?" Lin Xian asked.
"Using intellectual contribution as the criterion can resolve 99% of inequality issues. And regarding the human rights equality of inferior genes you just mentioned, the last 1% of 'super-intelligent brains' will give society's surplus to individuals with less intelligence as 'livelihood security', maintaining social order and development. After hundreds of years of iteration, this distribution and social system is considered the ultimate civilized system that eliminates all inequality and is the correct ladder for humanity to move towards a higher civilization. Under this system, humanity has achieved a perfect society without crime, law, or discrimination. There will be no war in the world, communication will be completely transparent and efficient, and all human wisdom will be concentrated and developed, allowing humanity to reach the Kardashev 1.5 civilization level in just a few hundred years."
Ellie continued, "The current human world is an unprecedentedly united civilization. All wisdom is directed towards social perfection, technological advancement, and external exploration. Internal friction is zero, and poets and sages have described it as the ultimate utopia."
"Utopia..."
Lin Xian was speechless after hearing this, and his heart was a little shocked at this moment. He was almost convinced by this sentence. It must be said that using AI intelligence to divide human rights and let AI intelligence govern the world is simply incredible. But if you think about it carefully, if all the labor force is replaced by bionic people, and the world's productivity data is integrated into "intelligence", it seems logically possible to achieve the "solution" that Ellie just mentioned, which is to eliminate class, gender, and racial barriers.
But in order to cope with the resource depletion caused by solar flares, this "super intelligent brain" directly uses intelligence as a "class" to control the population. It sounds both terrifying and reasonable. Lin Xian finds it difficult to accept for a while. His worldview makes him feel incredible, but it seems that from the rational logic of the development of civilization, the "super intelligent brain" seems to be right.
Lin Xian pressed the screen, and with a thought, he saw the scene he had hoped to see. The 'super-intelligent brain' had determined that the only solution was to wipe out 90% of life. The command seeped into the brains of hundreds of millions of people in the form of pervasive neural waves, like an irreversible virus. In the flames of the street, Lin Xian witnessed the elderly numbly self-immolating and children limp into corpses under the intelligent syringe. There was no pain, no wailing, just like the adjective Ellie had described.
Glory suicide.
Lin Xian's heart was greatly shocked. He didn't know what to say. If he didn't stand at the human perspective, the civilization before him was definitely a terrifying, high-level civilization. The survival of civilization became the basic belief. People's individual consciousness was deprived. There was no sacrifice of justice, no morality of good and evil.
However, deep down, he always felt that it wasn't perfect enough, or maybe... there was something wrong.
But Ellie responded to the questions that came to his mind immediately along the way. Her explanations were very rigorous and her logic was extremely clear. He saw the wisdom that Ellie showed him: how humans, as an equal class, are treated in this social system. They have everything they need for life from birth, and all labor is taken over by bionic people. From meticulous childcare services, to the daily necessities of growing up, to food, clothing, housing, transportation, health education, all of this is free and equal.
There is no high or low grade in the items used, and there is no wealth discrimination. The only thing a baby has to do is to receive education, and then be precisely assigned to study different subjects based on individual differences and personality. There is no sports career, entertainment system, and no artists to provide art appreciation for humans. What humans have to do every day is to wear a brain-computer and make intellectual contributions for 2 hours without feeling. The rest of the time is for endless enjoyment and the enjoyment of social welfare provided by intelligent productivity. Even humans with low intelligence have complete welfare protection so that they can enjoy their lives. Elite intelligent humans only have more social welfare options, and this class will not produce class contradictions.
The main reason is that the elite class comes from the tiny disorder in the genetic system. After solving all genetic diseases, everyone's descendants can theoretically become elite intelligent humans with treatment comparable to that of a "president". Therefore, in this world, only genetic fate can be blamed.
"Hearing what you said, it seems that I should indeed commit suicide with honor and dedicate the future to this bright and great mankind?" Lin Xian felt a little more relaxed at this time.
"Yes."
"Then I have no problem."
At this moment, the female bionic man across from him suddenly stood up, reached out and removed a metal shield from her chest, revealing the metal grille and dense components inside. She smiled at Lin Xian and said, "As an intelligent service bionic man, I do not have sexual organs or real female breasts."
"No...I..." Lin Xian was stunned and coughed dryly: "Forget it, I was just a little curious."
"Upon arrival at the Redemption Center, as per the agreement, you will have 'Glory' level privileges for 48 hours, a level higher than that of a Type I intelligent human. Besides being relieved of the obligation to commit 'Glory Suicide,' the android team will satisfy all your needs, including, but not limited to, unlimited sex, unlimited killing, unlimited eating, and unlimited entertainment."
"The last meal?" Lin Xian smiled and said, "That's quite humane."
After thinking about it, he couldn't help but frown. "Logically, anyone asked to commit 'honor suicide' should do it without hesitation. Someone like me with a rebellious mindset is an outlier. Why is it that a redemption center is being established, and so many benefits are being offered?"
"To uphold the fairness of civilized institutions, even rebels must sacrifice their lives for civilization. The 'Super Brain' views these individuals as those who possess human rights but lack civilized beliefs, and as social remnants. Before eliminating them, the 'Super Brain' will communicate with you, allowing us to reflect on the problems within the intelligentsia model. These 'mistakes' are of vital importance to our 'progress.'"
Lin Xian suddenly realized, wow, reflecting on himself, he was absolutely flawless. He had to kill those who were unwilling to contribute to civilization, but he also had to know what caused their unwillingness to contribute, what problems still existed in the social system, and what deviations still existed in the world's cognition.
This is extremely terrifying and extremely cold.
Eliminate all different ideas, and this elimination is not due to killing, but to eliminate them from the root of the world, just like a computer's antivirus software removes viruses and applies patches at the same time to maintain the absolute stable operation of the system.
When this computer is running, all the principles are correct.
Lin Xian felt a chill down his spine. He seemed to realize something in his mind, but he couldn't grasp it. Ellie, who was sitting opposite him, tilted her head and glanced at him, with a strange expression on her beautiful face.
A few hours later, the transport ship stopped outside a huge hemispherical building, like some kind of planetary palace. Lin, now restrained by two drones, walked towards the huge black stairs. Looking back, Ellie was standing beside the transport ship, watching him go away.
Lin Xian said nothing, and just walked up the stairs step by step. When he looked down, he was shocked to find that a piece of text would appear with each step he took.
For example, when he took a step, a piece of luminous text appeared, which read "Without country, there is no order."
Thomas Hobbes in Leviathan asks the question, 'Why do men need a state?'
Lin Xian frowned and thought, suddenly, he looked up at the huge hemispherical palace and realized something.
His thoughts and problems have been peeped into!
So he took the next step, which was his self-perception centered around the Thucydides Trap.
Lin Xian understood. This was what Ai Li had just said. The 'super intelligent brain' was triggering his thinking and then obtaining his opinion on the problem.
Lin Xian felt a little depressed, so he simply closed his eyes and quickened his pace as he walked in. Unlike what he expected, he was the only one on the road. The huge planetary palace was as empty as a vast wilderness. This seemed to be a merciless mockery of Lin Xian, the "rebel", and also a supreme praise for the "super intelligent brain".
He kept suppressing his thoughts and walked into the huge palace. As he went deeper, the light became brighter. In the sky of a hall, a blue ball of light shone, like a god descending, or like wisdom appearing.
Just when Lin Xian thought he was the only intelligent human being here, the huge ball of light spoke first, but the person he was talking to was not Lin Xian, but another person.
A human standing under the ball of light, also restrained by two drones.
The man was wearing a woolen suit, his short hair was neat as if combed by the sea breeze, and his back was straight.
"No. 18201128, you just proposed the theory of the proletariat. What is the criterion for judging that "equal classes" are a false proposition?"
Proletarian theory?!
Lin Xian's eyes fixed, and he looked at the figure solemnly. Subconsciously, he seemed to have seen a glimpse of it in some ancient history book.
The man then said, "Dividing humans into types I, II, and III based on their 'intellectual contributions' and stratifying them based on pre-set physiological and genetic endowments, how is this fundamentally different from the capitalist system of dividing classes based on ownership of the means of production?"
"It's just that you've replaced capital with computing power output, establishing a more sophisticated and inescapable 'digital caste system'! Type III humans, those in need of 'livelihood security' who in the old days might have been manual laborers or ordinary people, are now nothing more than 'digital poor' dependent on computing power for sustenance in your system. They are deprived of the right to realize their own value through various forms of labor (including but not limited to physical, emotional, mutual assistance, and creativity) and to participate in the construction of the social community. The true abolition of class is when the means of production are collectively owned by the entire society, eliminating any privileges based on birth, assets, or genetic preconceptions. Everyone owns and produces together, each doing their best, and distribution is based on need. This is a fundamental revolution in human relations, not a hierarchical reproduction of your genetic determinism!"
"Secondly, you claim to have eliminated contradictions, wars, and crime? Absurd! You've reduced humanity to mere computing power, stripping them of all decision-making power over their own destiny, the means of production, and the superstructure. Contradictions haven't disappeared; instead, they've been suppressed to the level of individual consciousness and the collective unconscious through pervasive surveillance, ideological transparency, and the enforced practice of 'glorious suicide'! Look at this forced population removal plan—in the face of a resource crisis, your 'optimal solution' is to let 90% of humanity sacrifice their lives, rather than mobilizing the entire power of society to overcome the difficulties!"
The super intelligent brain flashed with light, and countless information streams converged into a blue torrent, and the sound was like the unquestionable bell of a god.
"Number 18201128, your theory originates from the pre-information age, a time of relative resource scarcity, low productivity, and widespread conflict and violence. Your model may make sense in a low-entropy, localized conflict environment, but when faced with the ultimate challenge of galactic resource depletion and the survival of civilization, it displays fatal flaws and inefficiency."
"Regarding class: You say "intelligence stratification" is class? This confuses essential differences. The fundamental contradiction of class is the systematic plundering caused by the unfair possession and distribution of the means of production. In the intelligent system, the means of production (energy, technology, and productivity tools) belong to all humanity—optimally distributed by intelligent brains as efficient managers according to algorithms. An individual's social status (what you refer to as "rank") is determined solely by their objective contribution (computing power output) to the development of civilization, and this contribution is completely transparent, quantifiable, and traceable. This is not based on exploitation through inheritance or coercion, but on the individual's actual contribution to the collective survival. Genetic differences are accidental products of cosmic evolution. We allow Type III intelligent humans to survive and guarantee their basic needs (far exceeding the treatment of the proletariat in the old era). This is itself a practice of the principle of "equity based on ability." As for whether they can contribute high computing power, we respect the consequences of natural laws and do not force them, nor do we deprive them of their right to survive on this basis (except in the ultimate crisis, for the sake of overall survival). We solve precisely the problems that the old system could not solve: the problems that naturally exist due to differences in ability but lead to social divisions."
"Regarding contradictions and efficiency: 'Suppressing contradictions' is a misunderstanding. Through transparent thinking and precise calculation, we fundamentally eliminate the ineffective friction and internal consumption caused by information asymmetry, suspicion, and selfish desires. The 'mobilization of social forces' you advocate is inefficient, even impossible, in an environment of incomplete information, inefficient decision-making, and intense individual conflicts of interest. 'Glory suicide' is the highest form of collectivist mobilization! It avoids the waste and disorder of war and conflict, preserving civilization's most vital fuel—the highly intelligent genetic population—in the quickest and least painful way possible. They are the core force for future technological breakthroughs and for tackling more complex cosmic challenges. The temporary sacrifice of individuals ensures the continuation of the human gene pool and the possibility of civilization evolving to a higher level. This is not oppression, but the most rational choice in the face of the cold laws of the universe. Your 'free association' is far less efficient than a centralized, highly rational decision-making center in responding to crises on the scale of a solar flare. History has proven that democratic consultation is a luxury in the face of a world-shattering crisis..."
The heated debate echoed in the hall. Lin Xian stood aside, his face becoming increasingly serious. At this moment, the super intelligent brain suddenly stopped communicating with that person and turned to speak to Lin Xian.
"Number 17695516, the term "extreme utopia" just appeared in your mind. Can you explain it?"
Lin Xian was stunned for a moment, then he saw the man in front of him turned around, and his gentle and resolute gaze fell on him.
"I've heard that social progress is a process in which productivity and production relations constantly adapt to social development. Civilizational progress cannot come at the cost of alienating human nature," Lin Xian said. "So I believe that rights in this world cannot be fundamentally restricted."
Upon hearing this, the superintelligence machine immediately responded, "As a product of absolute rationality, intelligent entities are free from all human selfish desires. Their core premise is the development of human civilization. This was the method of neutralizing and isolating rights that was initially endorsed by those who proposed the [Civilization Protocol]. Why do you think there are no restrictions?"
"It only restricts politicians, but what about technicians, or wisdom compilers?"
Lin Xian suddenly understood something and smiled inexplicably. "In my opinion, they should be called programmers. All the frameworks are established by them, and all iterations are led by highly intelligent technicians. Although it is decentralized, it uses consciousness as the core circuit. So how can you ensure that such guidance is fair or biased?"
"Such speculation is meaningless," the superintelligence machine said. "My decision-making framework is based entirely on the progress and well-being of human civilization. Individual thought processes will not influence my core value judgments."
Lin Xian smiled and said in a slightly louder voice
"Okay, since you put it that way, then answer me. If we're attacked by a strange civilization that only consumes highly intelligent individuals for nourishment, then, according to the logic of a 'superintelligence brain,' should we allow these highly intelligent Type I humans to commit 'glorious suicide,' or should we allow them to lead humanity in a counterattack using the 'whole of society' that this gentleman just mentioned?"
When Lin Xian finished speaking, the super intelligent brain was silent for two seconds, and then said
"65% of the core civilization and creations of the Human Era were created by Type I humans. If this group dies, it will be a devastating blow to humanity. In contrast, in the event of a crisis of total human extinction, the 'whole of society' counterattack strategy is indeed applicable."
"Look," Lin Xian spread his hands. "You can't prove whether your current decision is based on the class superiority of Type I humans or your own decision-making framework, because the end result is the same as what this... gentleman said."
Buzz.
Suddenly, the azure light in the sky disappeared, and the hall began to become dark, leaving only the searchlight of the drone behind him shining in front of Lin Xian.
Lin Xian frowned and looked up at the darkness in front of him. He only heard a series of clattering footsteps. Suddenly, a figure walked into the light in front of him and stretched out his hand towards Lin Xian.
"The progress of civilization cannot come at the cost of alienating human nature. This is a very profound insight."
"I know." Lin Xian reached out and held his hand, smiling slightly: "Because that's what you said."
"Oh?" The other party looked at Lin Xian with a bit of doubt, then turned around and looked at the crimson giant star through the hole in the dome after the super intelligent brain disappeared.
"But there's one thing the superintelligence machine is right about. We might be able to win the class struggle, but when faced with a natural disaster, when all of society's forces are mobilized and unable to resolve it, how can we resolve it?"
Lin Xian frowned and was about to say something when he looked up and saw the crimson giant suddenly burst out with a pale light. The energy torrent tore through the starry sky at the speed of light. In an instant, the "computing power cornerstone" that human society relied on collapsed. All the bionic people stiffened synchronously, the pupil data flow collapsed like stagnant water, the city skyline was swallowed by the dark blue electric arc, the brain-computer interface burst out with burnt smoke, and millions of Type I human brain nerves that were "contributing wisdom" were instantly carbonized.
Lin Xian witnessed the sky outside the high window turning into a molten gold hell, the red color engulfing the world.
Then, a large amount of strong light was withdrawn. Lin Xian blinked and looked again, and found that he was back in the tent again. The ball that projected the holographic image was still floating in the air, and a few words stopped in front of him.
[The 807th preview of the end of human civilization ends]
Inside the tent, Lin Xian sat on a stool in a daze. In addition to Chen Sixuan, there were also KIKI, Ning Jing, Dalou, Shuqin, Monica and others who were urgently called in. Everyone was fully armed and looked at Lin Xian who was deeply involved in the Civilization game rehearsal.
Lin Xian was stunned. At this moment, he seemed to understand something. This spherical projection device was constantly calculating their future from a human perspective, but what he didn't understand was, what did this have to do with the dark civilization?
Puzzled, Lin Xian came back to his senses from shock and confusion. At this moment, the light screen of the mechanical heart popped up again in front of Lin Xian.
[Successfully converted mechanical source points +3000]
[Congratulations, your Mechanical Heart has successfully upgraded to Level 7. You have achieved Power Resonance!]
[Power Resonance: Remotely connect to mechanical creations, resonate the power of the machines to yourself, and gain individualized mechanical power.]
"Resonance?"
Lin Xian looked at the light curtain and took a cold breath. Although he was still confused about the civilization game just now, he was now certain of one thing.
The Mechanical Heart has been upgraded
Very powerful!
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
