150 Years Ago or 150 Years From Now? | Hideyuki Tokuda (Dean of the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies)
November 14, 2008
From November 7 to 9, a series of events related to the 150th anniversary ceremony of Keio University's founding were held. On the evening of the 7th, a celebratory Takigi Noh performance of "Tsuchigumo - Iriai no Den" was staged at the Mita Campus. A special stage was set up in the courtyard at Mita, and amid a fantastical atmosphere with bonfires burning, the performance was truly spectacular, with the spider's threads flying about. In the evening, I attended a welcome banquet for representatives of our international partner universities at the Hotel Okura and conversed with the guests. The next day, on the 8th, I was able to participate in the anniversary ceremony at the Hiyoshi Campus. Unfortunately, it was drizzling that day, and attendees at the ceremony venue wore clear ponchos in the cold. However, as the ceremony progressed, the clouds broke and the sky brightened. When Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress arrived, the drizzle miraculously stopped, and the sky grew even brighter. They concluded with the words, "I hope that Keio University will continue to nurture and send out many talented individuals who will be active both in Japan and abroad." After they left the venue, the drizzle started again. It was a strange feeling. In the evening, there was a commemorative party at the Imperial Hotel, where I had the opportunity to meet many members of the Keio Gijuku Shachu. On Sunday the 9th, the annual Rengo Mita-kai Taikai (Alumni Convention) was held at the Hiyoshi Campus. After the ceremony, I was able to see a Kabuki celebratory dance performance of "Renjishi" at the Commemorative Hall. Once again, I was deeply moved by the splendor of traditional performing arts. I headed home with the commemorative stamp sheet issued on November 7 and freshly baked Mikasayama cakes from Bunmeido as souvenirs.
Now, regarding the theme of 150 years, if I had been around 20 years old 150 years ago, I might have knocked on the door of Yukichi Fukuzawa's Dutch studies Juku in Tsukiji Teppozu. However, what interests me more is what kind of evolution in human society and technology will occur over the next 150 years.
As Ray Kurzweil, a proponent of the Singularity whom I once interviewed, suggests, will the "GNR Revolution" (the convergence of genetics, nanotechnology, and robotics) overcome all cancers and allow humans to achieve eternal life? He also advocates for what he calls "the Law of Accelerating Returns," arguing that all information-based technologies grow exponentially. He posits that all technological advancements—such as electronics, communications, DNA sequencing, brain scanning, reverse-engineering the brain, the volume and scope of human knowledge, and nanotechnology—will continue to grow exponentially. Another interesting point is his prediction that while the impact of past computing evolution and technological innovation has affected our "living spaces" and "lifestyles," future impacts will occur in close connection with the vital and intellectual activities taking place inside the human body and brain.
It seems that discussions about the Singularity are not very common in Japanese universities, but Stanford University, for example, hosts the SSS ( The Singularity Summit at Stanford ). I believe that SFC undergraduate students should also discuss the Singularity at some point.
Do you aspire to be a "natural human" or an "enhanced human"?
(Posted: 2008/11/14)