Editorial: Terasem’s new Journal of Personal Cyberconsciousness

by William Sims Bainbridge and Giulio Prisco, December 2024

In an era when both science and society face remarkably significant challenges and opportunities, the Terasem Movement Transreligion relaunches its pioneering publication: the Journal of Personal Cyberconsciousness, now integrating its historic partner, the Journal of Geoethical Nanotechnology. This transformation builds upon the past history of the two journals, and an archive of the earlier articles will be assembled on the new website.  This editorial aims to outline the vision, scope, and significance of this convergence.

A New Confluence of Thought

The Terasem Movement has long been at the forefront of exploring the intersections between technology, consciousness, and the ethical implications of advanced scientific endeavors. By merging these journals, the Movement seeks not only to streamline its publication efforts but also to create a more cohesive platform for discourse on some of the most profound questions facing humanity today:

What is Consciousness? This fundamental question explores the essence of self-awareness, identity, and the experience of existence itself. The journal will delve into philosophical, neuroscientific, computational, social-scientific and cosmological perspectives to understand what consciousness is at its core. Consciousness is central to human nature, but may also be fundamental to the nature of reality.

Replicating Consciousness in Machines: The quest to simulate human consciousness in artificial constructs is not just a technological challenge but a profound philosophical one. Articles will cover the latest in Artificial Intelligence (AI) development, from neural networks to quantum computing, examining how these technologies might one day house what we consider “consciousness.”

Preservation of Personal Consciousness Beyond Death: Perhaps the most speculative yet compelling area of study involves methods to extend human consciousness beyond physical death. This includes discussions on cryonics, where the body or just the brain is preserved at low temperatures with the hope of future revival; mind uploading, where one’s consciousness could theoretically be transferred into a digital substrate; and other imaginative methods like statistical measurement of personality traits or quantum entanglement as a means to connect consciousness across time and space.

Editorial Vision and Process

Edited by Giulio Prisco and Gabriel Rothblatt, the Journal of Personal Cyberconsciousness will not only be a repository of cutting-edge research but also a catalyst for dialogue among thinkers from various disciplines. The editorial duo brings together expertise in cybernetics, space ethics, and transhumanist philosophy, ensuring a broad yet focused exploration of the journal’s themes.

The editorial process will be guided by an approach that respects the diversity of thought while maintaining scientific rigor. This process will be overseen by an Editorial Committee, chaired by William Sims Bainbridge, who for three decades served as a program director in sociology and human-centered computing at the National Science Foundation. The committee’s role will be pivotal in:

Encouraging Expert Feedback: Rather than a traditional peer review, which can often be slow and restrictive, the journal will employ a light form of review where external experts are encouraged to provide insights. This method aims to enhance the quality of submissions without stifling the flow of new ideas or the expression of controversial viewpoints.

Balancing Speed with Depth: In the fast-paced world of technological advancement, the journal will strive to publish articles that reflect both current developments and deep, theoretical considerations. This balance is crucial for a publication that aims to both document the present and shape the future.

Scope and Impact

“Cyberconsciousness” refers not only to the development of technologies that mirror human awareness of reality, but also to our own need to be conscious of the real implications of revolutionary technology and the principles that must guide its ethical development. The inclusion of “Personal” in the journal’s title not only suggests that future technologies may reflect the distinctive natures of individual human beings, but also that each author and reader of the journal will seriously seek deep understanding and increased ability to make the right decisions. The journal’s scope will encompass:

Fundamental Science and the Nature of Reality: Articles will explore the latest in physics, cosmology, and metaphysics, questioning how these fields intersect with consciousness.

Space Exploration and Expansion: With humanity’s gaze increasingly directed towards the stars, the journal will cover advances in spaceflight, and in particular the beginnings of humanity’s expansion into outer space, with a special emphasis on how space exploration will affect human identity and consciousness. Our mind children (AIs, human uploads, and hybrids) will gradually become stewards and architects of the universe, and we ourselves are part of this process here and now.

Cybernetics and Artificial Intelligence: This will include not just the technical aspects of AI development but also the ethical implications, societal impact, and the potential for AI to achieve consciousness.

Virtual Reality: As Virtual Reality (VR) technologies advance, the journal will examine how these environments can simulate or enhance human consciousness, potentially offering new forms of existence.

Biotechnology and Nanotechnology: This area will look at how biological enhancements or nano-scale technologies might alter the future of humanity and advance our understanding of life and consciousness.

Social Science: As communication links people into networks and groups, consciousness has dimensions that extend far beyond individual brains, and thus may have transcendent qualities that deserve rigorous understanding.

The Journal of Personal Cyberconsciousness stands at the intersection of science, philosophy, and ethics, poised to influence not only academic discourse but also public policy, technological development, and cultural narratives around what it means to be conscious in the digital age.

Discovering the Future

The introduction of this journal is timely, as humanity stands on the brink of potentially revolutionary changes in how we understand and perhaps even expand consciousness. It offers a platform where scientists, philosophers, ethicists, and futurists can converge to discuss, debate, and dream about the future of human consciousness. Through this journal, Terasem Movement Transreligion reaffirms its commitment to exploring the vast potential of human experience, identity, and existence in a universe increasingly shaped by our technological prowess.

This is not merely an academic endeavor but a visionary one, inviting all of us to reconsider what it means to be human in the age of cyberconsciousness. The journey this journal embarks upon will undoubtedly challenge our preconceptions and perhaps, in time, reveal aspects of consciousness we have yet to imagine.