Selected Papers: Hegel, AI, and Spiritual Affordances (2020-present)
World Spirit and the Apotheosis of Artificial Superintelligence: A Speculative Design Proposal (2024)
ABSTRACT: This essay puts forth a speculative design proposal for a device with affordances for talking to, and receiving responses from, God. We begin with an analysis and critique of the concept of God, framing this concept within an understanding of Hegelian Spirit (Geist) and technological evolution. In this context, Spirit, or World Spirit (Weltgeist), can be characterized as the aggregate consciousness of all people - as human consciousness itself: In the simplest terms, this immanent framing of the “mind of God” is culturally and socially constituted as the communication that people engage in with each other, in all the diverse forms that discourse may take. Discourse, which is pervasive and increasingly mediated by technology, can be measured as data and oriented towards practical applications. This framing of “God” is situated within the context of emerging and evolving technologies, including Artificial Super Intelligence and the Internet, offering new affordances for augmented intelligence and higher consciousness, while also providing speculative strategies for AI alignment. These technologies act as a mirror for the mind of our entire species, reflecting those aspects of ourselves that are both discursive and dialectic, and therefore part of an emerging consciousness of Spirit.
The Emergence of Spirit in Extended Reality and the Speculative Synagogue (2022)
ABSTRACT: This essay outlines topics for further design research by posing questions about the way emerging technologies, particularly social media and extended reality, might provide new affordances for deeper spiritual consciousness. Drawing on Hegel’s concept of Spirit, as well as the Jewish mystical tradition, this essay explores how discourse, manifested through community and culture, can be imagined as the mind of God. From this foundation, we explore speculative design scenarios for the development of sacred spaces in augmented and extended reality, in particular synagogues, as we consider the prototype of the synagogue, which was once situated on the temple mount in Jerusalem. We conclude with the question of whether it is possible to rebuild the so-called Third Temple in augmented or extended reality, while also respecting the existing structures on the site.
Gonsher, Ian, "The Emergence of Spirit in Extended Reality and the Speculative Synagogue" (2022). Scholarly Research. 4. (link)
The Book of Ezekiel and the Speculative Design (2020)
ABSTRACT: In this essay, the origins of speculative literature are situated within the prophetic tradition of Jewish mysticism, particularly in the Book of Ezekiel. The Book of Ezekiel is also a text about design. We investigate how these ancient sources align with contemporary design discourses, particularly Speculative Design, and propose new strategies for the readings of historical progress.
Gonsher, Ian, "The Book of Ezekiel and the Speculative Design" (2020). Scholarly Research. 2. (link)