Elke Schwarz
OpinoJuris
Originally posted 30 Jan 25
Here is an except:
In theology, eschatology is the study of the last things. In Judeo-Christian eschatology, the last things are usually four: death, judgement, heaven and hell. Throughout the centuries and across different cultures, ideas about how the four last things play out, who holds the knowledge about these aspects and what the “after” constitutes are diverse and have changed over time. Traditionally, knowledge about the end was revealed knowledge – an idea that is intrinsic to Christian conceptions of apocalypse. In modernity, this knowledge was produced, no longer revealed. For this, modern probability theory was crucial and with this, techno-eschatology can be situated more clearly.
Techno-eschatology refers to the entanglement of technological visions and ideas of reality that are bound up with religious ideations about human transcendence, visions of judgement and salvation. In the technological variant, the eschaton comprises both revelation and renewal as it pertains to the individual and to humanity at large in one or more ways (as I show in more detail elsewhere). The crucial point, however, is the interplay between technology and the production of knowledge about reality and in particular, future-oriented reality. Techno-eschatology has a longer lineage which David Noble expertly draws out in his seminal work The Religion of Technology, published in 1999. In this text he clearly identifies the role technology plays in shaping narratives of eschatology and the associated production of knowledge needed for these shifting ideas throughout the centuries and decades. It is a long history, like all histories, filled with nuance and detail, but one constant remains: those who could credibly claim that they hold the key to some secret knowledge about humanity’s inevitable future were those that held the greater political power and exerted a significant sway. This is the same today and those with vested financial interests understand that techno-eschatological narratives hold enormous sway.
The point is not that eschatology, or indeed techno-eschatology must be coherent to be effective. Quite the contrary. The inherent ambiguity of the current techno-eschatological discourse opens a space for belief-making, drawing a greater number of people into a closed system that offers the illusion of provenance, order and some sense of a hopeful future. Those that claim to have discovered secret knowledge are those that are able to direct these futures.
Here are some thoughts:
This article presents a unique take on the emergence and possible function of AI technologies. The essay explores the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and humanity's fascination with apocalyptic narratives. It argues that the discourse surrounding AI often mirrors religious or prophetic language, framing technological advancements as both savior and destroyer. This "techno-eschatology" reflects deep-seated cultural anxieties about the unknown and the potential for AI to disrupt societal norms, ethics, and even existence itself. The piece suggests that this framing is not merely descriptive but performative, shaping how we perceive and interact with AI. By invoking apocalyptic imagery, we risk amplifying fear and misunderstanding, potentially hindering thoughtful, ethical development of AI technologies. The article calls for a more nuanced, grounded approach to AI discourse, one that moves away from sensationalism and toward constructive dialogue about its real-world implications. This perspective is particularly relevant for professionals navigating the ethical and societal impacts of AI, urging a shift from prophecy to pragmatism.
