[Synapse elist] cymbiosis

[Leonel Moura]

My last comment was probably too short and raised some misunderstandings.

1.
The human is an artificial entity made out of 
flesh, machines and information fluxes. A tool 
can be viewed as a machine. Language too. I have 
no problem with cyborgs, though I would suggest 
the term cymbiosis (cybernetic with living) 
because it implies some form of cooperation.

Most animals share these same characteristics. 
Tool making is common in many life forms. 
Language too. So, cymbiosis is everywhere.

I didn´t refer to the cockroaches project. But in 
general I agree with Mari that we should leave 
life alone. Additionally I believe to be more 
interesting to learn from cockroaches and try to 
simulate some components of their behavior in 
machines, than to subject these creatures to an 
ordeal rooted on typical anthropocentric views.

Cymbiosis must benefit all the partners. In this 
case I don't see what a cockroach gain with 
having a small computer on its back. But it may 
be some cases where animals enhance their 
capacities by cooperating with machines. A dog 
without a leg enjoys having prosthesis.

2.
Researchers and artists work at the edge of 
knowledge. We work in that tiny border between 
facts and ignorance. Many times it is difficult 
to distinguish a good idea from a stupid one. And 
art because it is always true (as opposed to 
science that it is only true until proven 
otherwise) is more vulnerable to stupidity. 
Particularly today. Seen the decadence and lack 
of imagination of mainstream contemporary art and 
the recurring use, to the point of boredom, of wittiness.

As we are manipulating live, expanding 
bio-technologies, creating more and more 
sophisticated robots, generating implausible 
combinations between organisms and machines, it 
is inevitable that artists will exploit these new 
fields. Not always in a clever manner. Stupidity 
is already an important trend in contemporary 
art; it will be much more predominant in the art of the 21st century.


Wikipedia: stupidity denotes an incapability or 
unwillingness to properly consider the relevant information