From prediction to prediction, a critical examination of Harari's claims about the future of human evolution

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

PhD Student in Baqerul Uloom University, Faculty of Philosophy and Ethics, Qum, Iran,

Abstract

Abstract
Purpose: Yoval Noah Harari is one of the most influential figures of the last century, whose horrific predictions of the future of mankind have received much attention. Given the capabilities of technology and artificial intelligence, he warns against the hacking of humans, widespread unemployment and the emergence of super-humans, and so on. The purpose of this article is to evaluate Harari's claims, considering the importance of futures research topics and its impact on how human beings move towards the future, in order to determine the place of futures studies in recognizing and constructing the human future.
Method: The method taken in this article is mainly analytical-critical. In this way, based on the rational principles and rules of Futures Studies, Haray's claims have been examined in terms of structure and basis.
Findings: The findings of this article show that Harari, unlike other futurists, has made prophecies and, knowing the role of prophecy in human subsequent actions, has made his statements improvable and invalid. His arguments also suffer from an internal incompatibility; Because the human self is called a myth and at the same time warns against being hacked and ignored! Exaggerating the future of technology and the possibility of reducing human truth to data is another problem.
Conclusion: The result of these discussions will be that Harari's futures research has no prior scientific value and, given the many drawbacks it faces, can not be a basis for those interested in futures research.
 
Keywords: Harari, Future Research, Artificial Intelligence, Human Evolution

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