This is the fourth of a science fiction series ( to read the first three click on hyperlinks below)
Masters in Intuitive ability ‘Readers a social history’ – by Cherry Godwin
(published postumously - in her memory)
It
has long been cited that readers emerged as a byproduct of brain transplant
technology. According to Wentzky (2024) by not replacing the entire brain organ
it allowed the brainstem of the recipient and the transplanted brain to
communicate. This rudimentary brain communication contributed to the
development in offspring of telepathic abilities, Smith and Stevens (2027).
These studies have fuelled some to dismiss those who develop intuitive
tendencies as genetic errors, medical mistakes or even as waste byproducts. Of
course, the scientists involved in such transplants have clearly argued that such
gross simplifications are an erroneous distortion of the facts.
They
have instead concentrated on the insights, the reader’s ability, brought to
neuroscience in general. The stigma suffered by readers was nothing new. The inquisition/expulsion/targeting
of ‘the different’ had historical parallels in terms of
race/religion/disability. Historically
speaking, this ever-enduring fear of others has given rise to not only
persecution but numerous wars for millennia. Race riots, religious clashes, the
growth of terrorism and a growing divide between the rich and the poor fuelled
upheavals right up to the beginning of the 22nd century. The situation might have escalated further had
it not been overtaken by two external events which decimated human society.
1. The pandemic
on a global scale changed human interactions both socially and internationally.
The loss of life had not been experienced since the Spanish flu of 1918 that
killed 40 million. One early impact had been a social isolation that became
necessary to avoid contagion. Almost no aspect of human interaction was left
unaffected. Even the handshake that most primitive of greetings (developed to
restrict the sword arm of your potential enemy) did not survive. Communities
became more rural as larger numbers perished in urban settings. International
travel became less common.
2. Severe climate
change sped up the pace of this deterioration in transportation. Due to sea
levels rising, more than had been predicted, coastal regions including almost
all the worlds major ports (Hubs of cargo transportation) were inoperable.
Speeding up of the earth’s engine meant there were more intense storms/dust/volcanic
eruptions/earthquakes/droughts and floods. The atmosphere (Due to holes
appearing in the ozone level) no longer protected the population from increased
UV rays. Nor did it aid communication systems as solar flares regularly knocked
outside satellites. Even communication at microwave level (WiFi) was impacted.
These
global changes transformed society. The fear of others combined with poor
communication systems and poor transport routes triggered the rise of opportunistic
political groups. Scientists called for a rational approach to the challenges but
were seriously damaged by the discovery that climate change had been fuelled by
the very technology developed in their ranks.
Social
anthropologists on recognizing the changing structures of human society began
groundbreaking studies of the grass root communities beginning to emerge. Such
close social groups, isolated in rural settings, began to exhibit customs and
mannerisms that reminded the researchers of much older tribal societies. Not
only, much more self-subsistent in nature but also demonstrating increasing
social interaction at the micro-community level. Many published papers showing
parallels with pre-industrial tribal groups.
In
a society where seas became the main barriers between communities the emergence
gradually of three Superstates (named after the three seas that separated them)
seemed organic. Technologically society developed in scientific hubs and
progressed quickly. Scientific knowledge had not been lost during pandemic and
climatic changes. Careful data storage meant that when scientific communities could
flourish (as in Superstate funded Hubs) the explosion of technological
breakthroughs startled everyone. Transplant technology was just one field,
which benefited from these hubs but there were others. In fact, it was
precisely due to the massive restructuring that scientific cross discipline
collaboration became rampant. This brought new fields of research. One such
crossover between fields was between neurologists studying brain transplant
development and those social anthropologists investigating new community
dynamics. When presenting results of readers telepathic abilities in close
proximity to others, anthropologists pointed out that in some very close-knit
communities of non-readers there seem to be a growing intuitive link between
members who had prolonged exposure to each other. This included sensing of
moods, being aware of small and subtle changes in behaviour or habits. This
coincided with a dramatic drop in suicide rates. It almost seemed as if social isolation
could be inversely linked to the health of the community.
One
social anthropologist pointed out that in ancient tribes if a witchdoctor cast
a spell on a troublemaker within the community the following social exclusion would
invariably cause the victim subjected to such isolation to die. The neurologists
wanted to know if isolation had been linked to suicides in other societies.
Exposure of such a link became evident in many societies from the rural
isolated Australian outback areas in the 21st-century to elderly living in
inner-city areas of France.
Neurological
studies of twins, highlighted instances of links built up via genetic
similarities and close proximity in the womb. Again it repeated and reinforced
earlier studies that actually brain communication was a result of enough close
physical exposure. Brains were evidently
designed to communicate in huge swathes of ways that far exceeded our previous
understanding. Science’s inability to spot such phenomena was largely a result
of ‘not looking’. Once attention was turned to this feature, all sorts of
evidence began to emerge. When females live in close proximity, their menstrual
cycle is quickly gets in sync. Couples who live together in close proximity for
many decades flagged up coincidence of thoughts and insights that were just
milder versions of the readers abilities. The brain’s plasticity continued into
adulthood and enabled unexpected linkage.
It
was soon demonstrated that intuitive links developed in communities and between
individuals was actually a healthy community in operation. In fact, isolation
and the lack of such contact was not only unhealthy but in some cases deadly. Studies
of human brain communication began to let the scientific community put readers
back into a continuum of mainstream abilities. Instead of being caricatured as
medical waste, they were in fact exhibiting skills that human society needed to
cultivate quickly. Living in a close-knit community was as important as a
healthy diet. Such genuinely close-knit groups are more welcoming of others.
This embracing of individuals, despite their abilities/or lack thereof was
indicative of a society in the process of development. That intuitive ability
allowed each member to learn from and contribute to their betterment of their society.
In this environment social exclusion of readers by Superstate’s such as Pacifica
could be seen as flawed as earlier ideologies supporting genocide.
To
choose to reject others led to to exclusion. Whatever steps taken in that
direction began to descend into a sliding form of apartheid. It inevitably
begins focused on one specific group but soon morphs into targeting more and
more as unwanted. In fact, the question becomes less, ‘Who do we not want?’ but
more, ‘who will we retain?’. Even those who supported the exclusion policies initially
can find themselves in later years the target of these same expulsions. Such
piecemeal dissection of society creates fear and confusion. In these divided and fearful societies
leaders become disproportionately empowered and corrupt.
In deciding which direction to take for the future,
perhaps there are parallels to be found in the biology that gave rise to
readers in the first place. Early organ transplants including heart, lung limbs
etc involved heavy-duty immune suppressant medication to avoid rejection of the
new organ. This had major side-effects and impacted considerably recovery
statistics. Eventually, science
uncovered an effective solution. The Tissue Generated Linkage Technique (TGLT) which
did away with the need for immune suppressants. This involved recognizing that that it was the
interface between donor organ and recipient that caused most of the
problems. By growing in situ
manufactured tissue that diluted boundaries, the body could be fooled into
accepting the new organ. Organ rejection
was all but eliminated and transplant technology proceeded at an incredible
pace.
Brain transplants became possible and although highly
controversial were carried out. The question of the hour was, ‘which was the
human’. The brain being given a new body or the body, being given a new brain.
Legislation was of the opinion that the higher organ (I.e. the brain) would
have to be perceived as the human host. When the existence of the brainstem of
the donor body became evident the legislation had to be revisited. If there are
two sentient beings in the one body, which one constitutes humanity. Before legislation could even be formulated science
showed how quickly the new brain and brain stem began to communicate and indeed
act as one. Such evident synchronicity seemed to preclude viewing them as
separate entities. The brain sections, instead of competing to dominate each
other, evidently approached proximity as a means of establishing a multitude of
communication channels. Including the development of high-level neural linkages
that neither had ever created before. It would seem rather than otherness or
rejection of a foreign organ, the brains choose a more creative and inclusive
path. Reaching out to this new organ with curiosity and openness.
This responsiveness of both parts of the brain to
totally new possibilities of communication is perhaps an indicator of the
general path an ever-advancing civilization should take. Inclusion, clear
communication, working for the progress of the whole system, all of these, our
brains indicated must be the priority.
Surely, when we contemplate the future of humanity these lessons must be
embedded in all our interactions.
